AN OXFORD United fan has been found guilty of breaking a rival supporter's jaw at a bowling alley.

Former boxer Clifford Whistler admitted punching Dagenham and Redbridge fan Jack Conner once in self-defence after a 3-3 thriller at the Kassam Stadium.

But the 56-year-old denied inflicting grievous bodily harm during the attack at Grenoble Road's Bowlplex in August 2014.

A jury of six men and five women at Oxford Crown Court yesterday unanimously found him guilty after three-and a-half-hours of deliberation.

Recorder Anna Laney warned Whistler that although she was releasing him on bail until next month, she was keeping all sentencing options open – including jail.

The panel found his co-defendant Jordan Hastie, 28, of Windrush Tower, in Knights Road, Blackbird Leys, not guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The jury heard Mr Conner had been at the match with friends celebrating his 21st birthday, then gone gone across the car park to the Bowlplex to wait for a taxi.

Prosecutor Christopher Hewertson said that when Mr Conner's friend began chanting the name of Dagenham striker Jamie Cureton it attracted the attention of Whistler and Hastie.

He said the pair crossed the bar and punched Mr Conner multiple times to the jaw, causing two fractures.

Giving evidence during the five-day trial Whistler, of Birchfield Close, Blackbird Leys, said he noticed Mr Conner's group "taunting" young Oxford United fans.

He said a row broke out, and then he saw a glass flung towards a table.

Whistler, who suffered a heart attack 11 years ago, said three men came towards him and he then hit Mr Conner in the jaw.

He added: "I thought I was about to get beaten up. I can't fight anybody, not at my age and not with my heart condition."

Whistler will return to the same court for sentencing on Wednesday, March 23.