A gay reveller's jaw was shattered in a brutal "hate crime" attack by a former pal, a court heard.
Prosecutors claim thug Michael Alan Oliver called the victim a "f*****" before punching him.
The shocking violence unfolded on a night out on Newcastle's 'Diamond Strip'.
The area - on Collingwood Street - was made famous by boozy scenes on the Geordie Shore reality series.
North Tyneside Magistrates' Court heard Oliver was in Bijoux after getting in a row with a female in House of Smith.
The victim, trying to be the "helpful party", tried stepping in.
But prosecutor Keith Laidlaw said 22-year-old Oliver - having "consumed several drinks" - lost it.
He struck the left of the victim's head while allegedly using the "hurtful" homophobic slur.
The blow was so brutal it resulted in a double jaw fracture.
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Pleading guilty to GBH without intent, Oliver shook his head after he was told he could face a starting point of three years behind bars.
Supporters - one clutching a box of tissues - sobbed during Wednesday's hearing.
But the court heard how the victim had been "embarrassed and belittled" by Oliver's outburst - and needed to go to hospital after the September 18 attack.
But mitigating, solicitor Busha Begum said while the Washington brute admitted the attack, he denied using the slur.
"Mr Oliver has known him for a number of years and has had no issues with his sexual orientation," she said.
She added the victim may have simply mis-heard him.
"He might have said the words f-off," she suggested.
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However a judge will decide Oliver's fate after his case was passed up to Newcastle Crown Court.
The defendant, from Talbot Close, was granted unconditional bail until May 9.
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The court heard a Newton Hearing may be required prior to sentencing, should the alleged homophobic slur make a difference to the sentence itself.
But passing it up, the chair of the bench hinted the attack itself could be savage enough to warrant prison.
"Even without the alleged homophobic context, it is out of the bench's powers," he said.
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