Ashley Palmer had been at the North Gong Hotel with the woman and his brother playing the pokies on the evening of December 24 when Palmer and his partner got into an argument.

The pair exited the hotel, still arguing, and walked across the road towards Station Street.

Palmer, who was a few metres behind the woman at first, closed the gap between them and lashed out at her, punching her in the face.

The woman fell to the ground.

A security guard from the hotel who had witnessed the incident ran to the victim’s aid, while Palmer fled the scene.

Emergency services arrived a short time later and the woman was treated by paramedics before being taken to Wollongong Hospital for further examination.

It was discovered she had fractures to her nose and eye socket, bruising, swelling and nerve damage.

Palmer pleaded guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in court this week.

He will be sentenced next month.