A Bournemouth man has been found guilty of breaking the jaw of a Good Samaritan who tried to break up a fight with his girlfriend on a night out.

Louis King, of Stewart Road, wept as a jury of five women and seven men delivered their verdict at Bournemouth Crown Court.

Judge Peter Johnson warned King, 28, that he faces jail for causing grievous bodily harm with intent to student George Griffiths after he intervened in a fight between King and his girlfriend in Old Christchurch Road.

Bailing King until sentencing on July 9, Judge Johnson said: “This will be a custodial sentence in years.

“The pre-sentence report will only address the length.

“You should be under no illusions whatsoever that it will be a custodial term when you return.”

Jurors took an hour and a half to reach a verdict after seeing CCTV footage of the violent attack, which happened near the taxi rank opposite Horseshoe Common on November 16 last year.

It kicked off as King argued with his girlfriend at around 3.30am after leaving Bliss nightclub, where he had downed four vodka and Red Bull drinks, the court heard.

King took off his jacket and T-shirt, wrapped it around his partner and pushed her to the floor.

When passer-by Mr Griffiths tried to stop the row, King punched him in the face, knocked him to the ground and stamped on his head.

He woke up days later in hospital and had surgery to wire his jaw and repair his cheekbone.

He still needs an operation to help him breathe through his nose.

Detective Constable Steve Sutton told the Echo: “King has obviously made a mistake on the night in question and unfortunately has to pay dearly for that mistake.

“It was a violent attack.

“However, I am sure that his remorse in court was genuine.”