Iron bar attack

Gary Sampson's solicitor Susan Duncan told Worcester magistrates animosity had grown between Sampson and Michael Baker over the past two years after Sampson allegedly insulted Mr Baker's wife.

Sampson yesterday admitted a charge of affray in the early hours of Saturday, December 30.

Matters came to a head on the evening of the incident when Sampson "snapped" following a drinking spree, the court heaed.

Stuart Mason-Parker, prosecuting, said Mr Baker had been woken by noise from the flat above followed by the sound of breaking glass and shouting outside his living room window.

"When he went outside he saw the defendant who shouted 'I'm going to ******* kill you Mick, you've given me hell'," said Mr Mason-Parker.

He added that Sampson, aged 44, of Lowell Street, Arboretum, made a move towards Mr Baker, swinging a metal bar, and Mr Baker picked up a garden chair for protection.

"The defendant continued to swing the bar with some force and it hit the chair causing it to smash," he added.

"He then hit Mr Baker on his right upper arm."

Police arrived at the scene and Sampson continued to shout and make threats.

As a result of the attack, Mr Baker suffered severe bruising to his upper arm and had butterfly stitches to a deep cut on his right knuckle.

Defending, Mrs Duncan said Sampson had snapped after suffering two years of verbal abuse from Mr Baker.

"He felt that every time they bumped into each other, Mr Baker had been verbally abusive to him," she said.

"Mr Sampson had been out walking his dog on December 29 when he saw Mr Baker emptying his rubbish bins and found his stance to be threatening. It was the final nail in the coffin."

She added that Sampson had shown extreme remorse afterward and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

He was sentenced to 80 hours community service and ordered to pay £100 compensation to Mr Baker for his injuries, a further £100 to Worcester City Council for the broken window, £5 for damage to the chair and £118 court costs.