A 21-year-old Alfredton man and a friend were outside a Lydiard Street food venue where they struck up a conversation with two men who were not known to them about 10.50pm on Thursday, March 25.

The conversation was amicable until one of the men allegedly punched the Alfredton man to the head in what police have described as an unprovoked attack.

Watch the footage here:

The victim suffered two fractures to the jaw and required surgery as a result of the assault.

The 40-year-old Mulgrave man has since been charged with three offences, including intentionally cause injury, recklessly cause injury and unlawful assault.

He was bailed to appear at Ballarat Magistrates' Court on March 21, 2022.

Speaking to The Courier in April, police said the victim was scared to venture into the CBD after the incident.

"The victim is shaken up. It has made him think twice about going out," Detective Senior Constable Larissa Murphy said.

"He has had surgery and he is at home recovering. He is very sore and he has plates inside his jaw."

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