A ROYAL Navy submariner injured a man with a single punch outside a Helensburgh pub after a chat over a poker game turned sour.

Joshua Healey left his victim bleeding above the eye after landing the blow outside the premises on East Clyde Street on the night of May 16.

The 21-year-old pleaded guilty to a charge of assault when he appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on August 30.

Fiscal depute Martina McGuigan said the incident happened after Healey’s victim left the pub briefly to smoke a cigarette and encountered three other men, including Healey, outside.

Ms McGuigan told the court: “The four became engaged in conversation about a game of poker which was taking place in the pub.

“Shortly thereafter an incident was captured on CCTV showing the accused punching the witness to the side of his face, causing a small cut above his left eyebrow.

“The witness did not appear to react, but went back into the pub and advised management, who contacted police.”

Ms McGuigan said that when Healey was cautioned and charged by police, he replied: “He was standing over my pal and I’m a defensive guy.”

Healey’s solicitor, Joanne Mortimer, said her client was a first offender and had no other cases outstanding against him.

“He is in full time employment as a submariner at Faslane,” Ms Mortimer continued.

“The CCTV footage shows my client standing outside the pub when the whole thing is jovial at first. The complainer then appears to make a bit of a nuisance of himself and Mr Healey punches the complainer once on the head.

“It appears the purpose was to knock a hat off the complainer’s head but he accepts he must have cut the complainer on the side of his face.

“It is something that is very much out of character.”

Sheriff William Gallacher told Healey: “It may be that the other individual was not in the best of form, but your willingness to resort to violence is very troubling.”

Fining Healey, of Barrington Parade, Leeds, £200 and imposing an additional £100 compensation order, the sheriff added: “I don’t expect to see you back here again – if I do, the consequences for you will be far, far worse.”

Healey was given 28 days to pay the penalty.