A MAN accused of punching a fellow pubgoer to the floor, causing him to have a brain haemorrhage and stroke, is standing trial.

Dejan Tomsic hit Bhavesh Patel outside the Town Inn in Hatfield, knocking him out cold.

Mr Patel’s head hit the ground and he was left permanently mentally and physically scarred.

Prosecutor Michael Speak told the jury of five women and seven men at St Albans Crown Court that Tomsic, high on a cocktail of alcohol, cocaine and jealousy, struck Mr Patel, 33, once in the head.

The court heard Tomsic was shouting a “tirade” of abuse at then girlfriend Stacey Farron outside the pub on March 1, 2008.

Mr Patel stepped in to offer sympathy to Miss Farron which Tomsic took exception to.

Tomsic, 32, who ran from the scene, admits punching the victim, but claims he did so in self-defence.

Mr Speak told the jury: “The question is, is he a man who becomes jealous and stupid when he wrongly assumes another man is taking an interest in his girlfriend.”

He added Tomsic’s defence was untrue and he was lying to police to cover his tracks

Tomsic of St Luke’s Court, Hatfield denies the charge of GBH.

The trial continues.