So when he met the man some time later, he broke his jaw in two places.

Dutton sent a Facebook message to the other man in August 2011 querying what was going on with his girlfriend and received an assurance they were just friends.

A court heard yesterday that 10 months later, last June, that Dutton sent a message telling the other man to stay away from his girlfriend.

There was a heated exchange with the other man saying he had hardly spoken to Dutton’s girlfriend since he first got upset.

But an intoxicated Dutton approached the other man at Sweetheart’s Pizza about 3.30am on July 22.

Dutton wanted to talk to him and they walked to the Dean Street and David Street intersection.

The other man thought he was going to be assaulted when Dutton was just 30 centimetres from his face so he pushed him away.

Dutton grabbed the other man, pushed him against a wall and punched him twice.

The victim knew immediately there was something wrong and was assisted by security guards who took him to the police station.

A trip to the Albury Base Hospital revealed a complete fracture through the left side of his jaw.

Further scans the next morning revealed another break and the victim had two plates and screws inserted in an operation.

Dutton admitted the assault to police when interviewed in August.

Dutton, 24, of Bank Street, Howlong, appeared in Albury Local Court yesterday for sentencing after pleading guilty to recklessly causing grievous bodily harm.

Magistrate Megan Greenwood said when putting Dutton on an eight-month suspended sentence that the victim had suffered significant injuries.

“It seems to me your intent was a physical confrontation,” Ms Greenwood told Dutton.

“It is a concern to the community that this sort of conduct is occurring.

“Matters of violence are all too common.”