William James Webb punched the victim once in the face without warning in the early hours of July 19, and left him with a fractured eye socket, swelling, bruising and a hefty medical bill.

Webb fronted Tamworth Local Court this week and admitted to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, after the attack was filmed on CCTV and he was arrested at the scene.

The court heard the 24-year-old walked up to the victim at the Brisbane St taxi rank just before 3am and stole the hat off the man’s head and walked away.

When the victim, who was getting into a taxi at the time, reached out and asked for the hat back, Webb “punched the victim in the left cheekbone, just below his left eye”.

According to court documents, the force of the punch caused the victim to fall to the ground. 

Security guards immediately detained Webb and police arrived moments later.

Police said, in the minutes after the attack, the victim’s left eye was swollen closed, his cheek swelled up and his nose continued to bleed before paramedics arrived.

Medical records obtained by investigators show the victim will require further treatment by specialist doctors to treat the fractured eye socket.

Magistrate Michael Holmes said the offence was unprovoked and so serious, he had no option but to send Webb to jail – despite the tourist having a clean record.

“A line has to be drawn in the sand,” he said on alcohol-related violence.

On Tuesday, after spending a night in custody at the Tamworth Correctional Centre, Webb submitted an urgent bail application to be released, pending an appeal in the district court.

“He has surrendered his passport to police, they have that,” Webb’s solicitor told the court.

“He was to provide an undertaking he won’t apply for any other [passport].”

Webb is working as a labourer on a Moonbi property, in a bid to secure a second visa to stay in Australia.

Mr Holmes said Webb was a flight risk and could flee the country because he had a jail term hanging over his head.

“What the court is concerned about is failing to appear at any future proceedings,” he said.

“I propose to grant bail with very, very strict conditions.”

Mr Holmes ordered Webb to live in Moonbi, report to police every day, surrender a sum of cash as surety and to stay away from alcohol or drugs.

Webb is also prohibited from applying for another passport and must not enter any international airport or point of departure.

“I’m concerned he’s going to return to England. I’m asking the matter to be expedited,” Mr Holmes said.

“The immigration department is to be notified and I’m putting a stop order in place.”