A police officer punched a man in the face at a party before hitting a second man and a waitress, a court has been told.

Patrick Marten told Brighton magistrates he was punched by Leigh Hardwick after kissing the officer's girlfriend at a Christmas party.

Mr Marten, a site foreman for his family's building business, suffered a black eye in the alleged attack at an Eastbourne restaurant last December.

Sergeant Leigh Hardwick, 41, of Seaside Road, Eastbourne, is accused of hitting Mr Marten and another guest, Jeremy Hopwood, who it is claimed tried to stop the attack on Mr Marten.

The off-duty officer is also accused of hitting waitress Marie Coad on the nose.

Hardwick denies three charges of common assault.

The court heard trouble broke out at the end of the party at the New Orleans, in Terminus Road, hosted by Equity Residential Lettings, which invited clients, contractors and friends.

Hardwick, who was a client, attended with his girlfriend.

Mr Marten said he was attacked after he said goodbye to Hardwick's girlfriend.

He said: "I might have given her a peck on the cheek.

"Then I heard a raised voice saying, 'You and me, outside now'.

"I stepped towards him to ask what he was going on about and I got punched.

"I just held my face and went down. I was shocked, knowing he was in the force."

Hardwick, who sustained injuries to his head, wrist and knuckles, denies assaulting anyone and says he acted in self-defence.

But Russell Fortt, prosecuting, said witnesses would tell the court Hardwick was not telling the truth.

He said: "It is clear it turned out to be a rather unpleasant evening.

"The defendant denies assaulting anybody that evening but witnesses say he behaved aggressively throughout.

"His own girlfriend was sufficiently concerned about his behaviour that she asked staff not to serve him any more alcohol."

The trial continues.