POLICE believe an assault that left a man with a broken jaw was a case of mistaken identity.

The 51-year-old victim and his wife were walking along a footpath into Fairview Drive, Romsey , on Saturday, when they became aware that a man was following them. When the man turned to see who was there, he was punched in the face by a man who said the husband had punched him in a pub earlier in the evening.

The victim suffered broken teeth, the loss of a crown, a cut inside lip and a broken jaw.

Officers later arrested a 19-year-old North Baddesley man.