A WORCESTER man attacked a female friend after she refused to kiss him.

David Brown hit the woman after she pushed him away as he tried to kiss her lips, magistrates were told.

Brown admitted common assault when he appeared before Droitwich magistrates yesterday.

The bench heard how the 58-year-old made the advances when the woman, who had been a close platonic friend for a number of years, visited his home on Friday, July 27.

Julian Harris, prosecuting, told magistrates Brown had then overpowered the woman and locked her in his house after she rejected the kiss.

"At one point he had straddled her and was holding her down," he said.

"The injured party says that she felt a blow to her mouth which caused extreme pain. She adds the defendant was then pressing his hands around her throat and she feared he was trying to choke her, but she managed to force her hands into his face and push him off.

"Her face was bleeding and she was screaming in fear, but the defendant would not let her out. However, after 20 minutes, he agreed to release her.

"In a police interview, Brown had said he had meant to hit the sofa in frustration but missed and hit the victim."

Richard Wilkes, defending, said Brown, of Cranham Drive, Warndon, had been very distressed by his behaviour, which he claimed was completely out of character.

Brown's actions had come about because he had found it difficult to accept the woman had formed a new relationship with another man.

"My client had feelings for the woman and tried to make them known in a rather clumsy way, and it went from bad to worse," said Mr Wilkes.

"Everything he did after that was to calm her down. The lady was very upset and was going to leave straight away and my client didn't want her to do that. He wanted to calm the situation down.

"He's very embarrassed and remorseful about what has happened, especially as the relationship has been affected.

"Although the victim wants him to be dealt with, she doesn't want her pound of flesh over the incident, and because of her, there are no further charges."

Magistrates ordered Brown to pay £75 compensation and £50 court costs.