A Pembroke man yesterday admitted breaking a man’s jaw during an argument over football.

Paul Johnson, 29, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Ricardo Tucker on July 18 last year.

The court heard that at about 6.30pm that day, Mr Tucker was at “Tent City” behind the Salvation Army Shelter on North Street when he was set upon by Johnson and two other men.

Prosecutors said Johnson used a metal chair to strike Tucker on the head and body while the victim tried to escape by crawling under a table.

Mr Tucker reportedly lost consciousness during the attack, awaking only when a friend came to his aid.

The friend managed to get the blood-covered victim on his motorcycle and took him to Hamilton Police Station.

He was later taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, where he remained for the next week receiving treatment.

He reportedly suffered a fractured mandible — jawbone — and a deep cut above his left eye.

Johnson was charged over the attack alongside Seymour Ramatar, 33, and Jermain Lauder, 31, last September.

Mr Ramatar and Mr Lauder both maintain their innocence but Johnson changed his plea at Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Johnson apologised for his actions, telling the court that neither of his co-defendants had been involved in the fight.

He said the fight broke out while he, Mr Tucker and others were watching the World Cup.

“We were drinking, smoking marijuana and got into an argument over the football ending in a scuffle,” he told the court. “I was just trying to defend myself.”

Magistrate Archibald Warner ordered a social inquiry report and drug assessment for Johnson, adjourning his sentencing until March 24.

Mr Ramatar and Mr Lauder are expected to return to the courts on March 18 for trial.