A TEENAGER punched a woman in the face after hearing jibes about drug dealing, a court was told.

Droitwich Spa magistrates heard how Paul Biddle stripped to the waist after attacking Dorothy Smith and challenging the woman's friend to a fight -- even though two police officers were standing by.

Kerry Moreton, prosecuting, said 19-year-old Biddle fled as the police tried to arrest him.

The confrontation flared on Droitwich's Westlands estate when Biddle and his friends heard someone accuse them of "dealing in illicit substances," Miss Moreton said.

"Paul Biddle struck Miss Smith in the face and shouted at her" she told the court.

"It left her with swelling to right side of her face."

Two constables arrived after hearing the outburst.

But Biddle -- who by this time had removed his shirt -- failed to notice them by 28-year-old Miss Smith as he closed in, challenging people to "take him on."

The officers grabbed him, but Biddle ran away to Charland Court, where he was cornered and arrested.

Biddle, who denied the charges in earlier court hearings, admitted affray, common assault and obstr-ucting the police on Friday January 19, when he appeared before the bench on Thursday March 7.

Iain Willis, defending, said Biddle, of Charland Court, in Droitwich, had been provoked when he saw a man in the other group take his shirt off.

"My client saw red," he told the court.

"In gypsy language taking off your shirt means "I'm going to fight you" so he took off his own shirt."

Magistrates gave Biddle, who is now serving a prison term for driving while disqualified, a four-month jail sentence.

No compensation was ordered.