AN Elvis impersonator who attacked another man following an argument over a pub karaoke performance has been jailed for eight months.

Randy Light, 54, from Medway Road, Ferndown, admitted assaulting Jonathan Bennett-Snewin, causing actual bodily harm, on March 7 this year.

Prosecuting at Bournemouth Crown Court, Anita Gibson-Lee said violence had flared after Mr Bennett-Snewin had gone to pick up his wife from the King’s Arms on Wallisdown Road, following a night-out with her friend.

“As they made their way out of the pub towards their car they heard a voice saying: ‘I don’t like you’ before Mr Bennett-Snewin was punched twice in the face and Mr Light was restrained.”

Miss Gibson-Lee added that Light’s bleeding victim had needed 14 stitches to a lip injury and been left permanently disfigured by the assault.

Defending Light, Robert Griffiths said a row had developed after a woman who was hard of hearing had performed a song. He added: “The singing came out in a rather strange fashion and that prompted an argument.

“Mr Light was in the gents’ toilets but he took the view that there was going to be trouble and was trying to protect his brother’s safety. He never intended to cause serious or permanent injury.”

Mr Griffiths told the court that his client was an Elvis impersonator who helped out at a day centre for the elderly where he is known as “The Cooking Elvis”

Sentencing Light, Judge Samuel Wiggs told him: “You had absolutely no right to resort to violence, you are fortunate not to have been charged with a more serious offence.”

There was uproar in the public gallery and protests from Light as he was led away.

Mr Light’s wife Diane said she felt the sentence was too long.

She said: “I just don’t think it was fair on him.

“For his last conviction he got community service, which he did.”

Mr Light’s son-in-law David Smith said he felt the judge would have been more lenient had he seen the CCTV footage, but the disk held in court was damaged.

He said his father-in-law completed his community service for a previous offence - where he drew national attention for singing for the judge in court - at a church in Canford Heath where he cooked for a lunch club. He became known as the cooking Elvis and went back to sing for the lunch club.

Mr Smith said: “He had an Elvis suit and put a gig on for them for free. After his community service the women were asking for him to come back and sing and dance.”