A MAN has been fined £250 after he admitted punching a love rival in a pub beer garden.

Murdoch Brown, of Bocking Place, Braintree, assaulted Michael Gooch at The Swan in Bank Street, Braintree, on August 9.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard the pair were arguing because Mr Gooch had started a relationship with Mr Brown’s former partner, with whom he had a young child.

The court was told Mr Gooch made comments suggesting he would stop him seeing the child.

CCTV footage played in court showed the 28-year-old lashing out and punching Mr Gooch in the face.

Mr Gooch is then seen to stagger back before running into the pub.

He was later treated in hospital for fractures to both sides of his jaw and had to have a wisdom tooth removed.

However, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped a charge of grievous bodily harm after deciding it could not definitively link the injuries with the assault.

Mr Brown, who has five previous convictions including one from 2006 for battery and one from 2010 for actual bodily harm, admitted a charge of common assault.

He was fined £250, ordered to pay £105 costs and a £25 victim surcharge.