Swann pleads on assault charge

English-based Kiwi Logan Swann has admitted an assault on a man in Auckland's Queen St last year.

Swann originally denied the charge, which was laid jointly with two others, but when it was amended to the lesser charge of a Crimes Act assault, he pleaded guilty when he appeared in Auckland District Court today.

He was remanded at large until February 11 for restorative justice to be explored.

The court was told today Swann was drunk when he and two associates met the victim and others in Queen Street at 6.15pm on May 4 last year.

The victim and his friends joked with Swann that he was a ball juggler and about his tackling but it was all in good fun and all the parties were joking, said police prosecutor Sergeant Robert Kennedy.

When the victim asked Swann to show him a tackle, Swann stepped forward and in a mock tackle nudged him with his shoulder.

The victim said jokingly that was not a tackle and Swann repeated the move.

After more jesting, Swann walked up to the victim and nudged him off balance. He wrapped his arms around the victim, twisting his upper body and throwing him backwards to the ground. Swann landed on top.

The force left the victim injured and gasping for air on the footpath, where he was assaulted by Swann's associates before they walked up Queen St.

He was bruised on his upper chest and the back of his head. His right eye was swollen shut and the right side of his face was swollen and grazed.

Swann refused to say anything when police spoke to him, Mr Kennedy said.