surprise attack outside a Droitwich shopping complex on Christmas Day last year, Worcester Crown Court has heard.

Nicky Davies suffered a black eye, bruising and cuts to the head, said Lucy Hawkins, prosecuting.

His attacker, 23-year-old Martyn Deeming, of Charland Court, Droitwich, was arrested the next day and had been in custody since.

Deeming, who admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage, was jailed for 10 months but freed immediately because he had already served an equivalent of that sentence.

Argument

Lee Marklew, defending, said the assault was a follow-up to an argument, which had started a fortnight before. Deeming's problem was drink, which left him very short-tempered.

Miss Hawkins said the damage occurred on July 21 last year when Deeming had gone to another man's flat. He was extremely angry, kicking in one window and falling through another, causing £509 damage.

Deeming denied threatening violence in an affray. Recorder Gareth Evans QC said Deeming was a young man with an unenviable record for violence. Longer prison sentences would result if he continued to go around hitting people.