A BLACK TIE birthday celebration attended by hundreds of young people ended with a party goer being struck over the head with a Champagne bottle, a jury heard.

Around 200 people were invited to Jemmetts Farm in Thame to celebrate siblings Sophie and Jack Bull turning 18 and 21, Oxford Crown Court was told.

Luc Foley is on trial accused of unlawful wounding after the celebration on May 6 last year turned sour. Foley, 19, of Whitehouse Road, Oxford, is accused of striking 21-year-old George Lane after an argument.

Alistair Grainger, prosecuting, said the trouble started at around 1.30am after 15 to 20 guests bedded down for the night inside the party marquee and a “very drunken man” stumbled in looking for a dinner jacket.

Later when he went outside for a cigarette he saw a man holding a bottle by the neck.

Mr Grainger said: “The next thing he was aware of was waking up in hospital with a 6cm gash on his forehead.”

Giving evidence yesterday, the defendant said his friendwho was looking for his jacket had been attacked first.

Foley said: “As I was going to try and break it up, someone punched me to the side of the head. Then there were two or possibly three people trying to beat me up.”

Foley said he was being pursued when he saw a bottle lying on the floor of the marquee. He said: “As I was running I picked it up. I instinctively lashed out with my hand that had the bottle in it.”

The trial continues.