A DUTCH tourist punched a clubber outside a city centre kebab van so hard he broke his eye socket, a court heard.

Jalla Vermue, of Langewey, Apledorn, Netherlands, denies one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent.

Oxford Crown Court heard as his trial began today how the 20-year old had been out with three fellow visiting Dutchmen at the time of the incident at about 3.30am on February 27.

Prosecutors told the court that Vermue approached his alleged victim and his friends who were sat outside a kebab van parked opposite the Slug and Lettuce, New Road.

Despite neither groups knowing each other a row broke out, the court heard, after Vermue called the complainant's girlfriend 'a whore' and a fight quickly ensued.

During the brawl, jurors were told, the alleged victim tried to intervene and was punched by Vermue causing a fracture to his left eye socket.

Police arrested Vermue who was staying at a bed and breakfast at Abingdon Road, that morning, jurors were told.

Taking to the witness box yesterday the alleged victim - James Ryan, said that he had been out at the Atik nightclub that night and at the time of the incident he had been enjoying a kebab with two friends and girlfriend.

He said: "I was abrupt [with Vermue] but at the same time I was still sat down, it was not like I was being aggressive."

During cross examination Kellie Enever put to Mr Ryman that he had been drunk that night, an assertion he accepted, but denied that he had been the aggressor.

The trial continues.