A FORMER soldier had to be restrained by police using CS spray after attacking two men in Malvern, magistrates were told.

Andrew Noon admitted assault causing actual bodily harm on the men - one a retired man who went to the aid of the first victim - on Monday, January 8. Both men had to be taken to hospital with cuts to the head after the attack.

Stephen Harris, prosecuting, said Noon had attacked Jeffrey Worth near the junction of Malvern's Graham Road and Church Street.

Mr Worth had stopped to inspect his car after hearing a bang on the side of it. He saw Noon nearby and believing he had hit the car, called after him.

But Noon had started shouting and then attacked him. At one point Mr Worth was forced on his knees after Noon kicked him twice in the back.

Mr Harris told magistrates the former soldier then attacked a passer-by who went to the aid of the terrified victim.

"The person who came to his rescue was punched and kicked," he said.

"The man said he saw an unprovoked attack and went over to offer the victim assistance but when he approached the parked car the assailant attacked him."

He added Mr Worth, who had tried to stop traffic and draw attention to the incident, had said in his statement police had had to use CS spray to restrain the assailant.

But Andrew Childs, defending the 29-year-old of Apple Orchard Close, said it was not a clear-cut case as his client had been suffering from post traumatic stress.

"This isn't a simple case and my client did enter early guilty pleas," he said.

"He's been suffering post traumatic stress after his time in the Army. Something could have acted as a psychological trigger to make him act in this way."

Magistrates ordered Noon to appear at Worcester Crown Court on Friday, March 30, for pre-sentence reports.