A FATHER suffered a bleed to the brain after being floored with a single punch in a row over his pet cat, a court has heard.

Anthony John Hodge was struck in the face by 21-year-old Jimmy Johnson, and hit his head on the ground, prosecutors allege.

However, Johnson – of Hudson Road in Poole – said he acted in self-defence after Mr Hodge behaved aggressively towards him.

The defendant, who is on trial at Bournemouth Crown Court, denies inflicting grievous bodily harm in an alleyway between Belben Road and Bremble Close on August 26 2013.

Prosecutor Charles Gabb said Mr Hodge had stopped to speak with neighbour Wendy Staddon, who repeatedly feeds his cat George, shortly before the incident took place.

However, he said Johnson was no part of the discussion, adding: “Nobody at that stage saw the defendant. It was unclear who the assailant was or what on earth he was doing there.

“We know now he was the boyfriend of Mrs Staddon’s granddaughter and was visiting her at that time.”

Mr Hodge’s wife Amanda told the court that after she took his arm and asked him to return to their home, she suddenly heard Johnson speak behind them.

“I heard another voice saying, ‘I’m going to hit you, right’, or something,” she said.

“I turned around to see if it was coming from behind me. The person was just there.”

She said her husband had been unable to defend himself against the defendant’s punch, adding: “Tony went down with a big bang.”

Mr Hodge told the court that he is unable to remember the incident, but suffered a fractured skill and bleeding on the brain, as well as bruising around his left eye.

Johnson was arrested after his fingerprints were found on a bottle of strawberry-flavoured cider nearby, the hearing was told.

Brian Sharman, defending, said his client had sought to defend himself against Mr Hodge.

A statement from a police officer was read aloud, in which it was alleged that the 54-year-old smelled as if he had been drinking.

A can of lager with his fingerprints on was also found in the alleyway, the court heard.

Mr Sharman said the defendant had come across Mr Hodge and his wife “shouting” at each other before he went “toward the defendant who punches out or pushes out and the fellow ends up on the deck and injured.”

The trial continues.