A SALESMAN who kicked a complete stranger in the head during a night-out in Bournemouth has had his sentence deferred.

Lloyd Stewart, 30, from Knyveton Road, Boscombe, admitted common assault and a public order offence on February 26 this year.

Prosecutor Carolyn Branford-Wood said the unprovoked, alcohol-fuelled attack had happened on Poole Hill as Stewart’s victim was walking home after watching a rugby match.

After nudging him, father-of-two Stewart was captured on camera kicking the man in the head. He walked off, leaving his victim on the ground with facial injuries.

Miss Branford-Wood said Stewart, who also admitted breaching a suspended sentence order, had been identified from CCTV footage and arrested on March 2.

He initially claimed he had been acting in self-defence after his victim, who cannot remember the assault, had ‘invaded his personal space’.

But he later apologised for his drunken behaviour.

In Stewart’s defence, the court heard that he had ‘got himself very drunk and been a nuisance to all and sundry’ but was now ‘desperately ashamed and remorseful’.

Judge Samuel Wiggs described Stewart’s behaviour as ‘thoroughly unpleasant’ and said it was lucky his victim had not been more seriously injured.

He deferred sentence until October 5 and warned Stewart: “If you do not have a glowing report I shall impose a prison sentence.”