A MAN has been found guilty of assaulting a stranger who suffered a bleed to the brain in a row over a pet cat.

Jimmy Johnson, of Hudson Road in Poole, had denied a single count of grievous bodily harm following the incident on August 26, 2013, during which Anthony John Hodge was “pole axed” by a single blow.

However, following a trial at Bournemouth Crown Court, jurors returned a guilty verdict.

The 21-year-old - who told a “pack of lies” to police during interview - ran away after lashing out at Mr Hodge in the alleyway between Belben Road and Bremble Close.

The victim had stopped to speak with neighbour Wendy Staddon, who repeatedly feeds his cat George, shortly before the incident took place.

Mr Hodge suffered a fractured skull and bleed to the brain after hitting his head on the ground and was put into a medically-induced coma by doctors at Southampton General Hospital.

Johnson was snared after investigating officers discovered his fingerprints on a bottle of strawberry cider.

Prosecutor Charles Gabb told the court that the defendant was “determined to tell a pack of lies”.

“The reason you told those lies was because you couldn't bring yourself to tell the truth,” he told Johnson.

“You knew exactly what you had done.”

He said that Johnson had told police for the first 42 minutes of his formal interview that he hadn't been at the scene, later changing his story to say that he had pushed Mr Hodge.

Finally, he admitted striking out at the victim with a clenched fist, but said he had felt threatened by Mr Hodge.

When asked by Mr Gabb if he “felt any responsibility” about the injuries suffered by the victim, Johnson replied: “No.”

Judge Samuel Wiggs will sentence the defendant at the court on October 17.