AN UNPROVOKED attack in a Worcester street left a dad with serious injuries and cost him his job.

Keith Bowley was dropping off his daughter’s friend at flats in Dent Close on May 23, last year when he was attacked by Brennan Kilner.

Mr Bowley said he went with the woman to get her children out of a flat because there was a row going on.

He said: “While my friend went to get the kids, I sat in the car but could hear all this commotion coming from the flats so I got out and the lad came round and asked me what I was doing.

“At that time my daughter phoned me up and I answered so I think he must have thought I was calling the police and telling them about it and he just hit me.

“It was totally unprovoked. I lost my job because of it as I was in a probation period and had had so much time off work with the rehab from my injuries.

“Because of that I had to go onto ESA which caused me a lot of money trouble and I have only just been dismissed from physio for my foot.

“I am just happy the whole ordeal is nearly over. I am back at work now and hopefully I can move on from this.”

The court heard how Kilner asked Mr Bowley, 55: “What are you staring at?” before saying “I heard what you were saying, you want me to come and smack you?” and punched him in the face.

The punch left Mr Bowley with a fractured eye socket and a twisted ankle sustained from falling as he was hit. The attack also caused a bleeding blood vessel in his eye.

Kilner, aged 20, of Bridge Street, pleaded guilty to wounding and inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent, and Worcester magistrates decided to send the case to crown court for sentencing in light of Kilner’s previous record, with eight previous convictions.

Chair of the Bench Judith Hulland said: “We have looked through it all and taken into account your previous record and are not prepared to take this so we will commit for sentencing at Worcester Crown Court.”

Mark Turnbull, defending, said: “When Mr Kilner was arrested he claimed it was a matter of self-defence. It is a single punch but Mr Kilner now accepts that it was not in self-defence.

“He also accepts that even if he had been approached by Mr Bowley, that there are probably better ways of dealing with it.”