AFTER being repeatedly mocked for his muscular physique, a Worcester man snapped and attacked one of his tormentors – landing him with a criminal conviction.

Luke Sturman, aged 28, of Homestead Avenue, Worcester, punched James Lambert in the face at a Vodka Revolution bar in Southampton.

Belinda Ariss, defending, said Sturman was drinking with a friend, who he had not seen in years, when a group including Mr Lambert started to tease him.

She said: “Comments were made about his size and references to how muscly he was. The comments continued. They asked if he was good at looking after himself.

“He thought the other group were drunk. There were two problematic males. He bought them a drink halfway through the evening to calm things down.

“He moved away from the group and talked to his friend.”

Magistrates were told that the group also talked to him about tight shirts and kept approaching him throughout the night.

The court heard the defendant snapped when he saw Mr Lambert and his friends pointing at him, prompting him to approach the group and punch the victim in the face.

Mrs Ariss said the defendant rarely drinks and consumed about five pints of lager on the night of the assault. She added: “The victim previously whispered ‘I’m going to have you’ to him. It was not a brilliant punch. It was half a haymaker strike. He then grabbed his coat and waited outside. There was slight reddening to the other man’s cheek. He wasn’t knocked out.”

The court heard that Sturman was pursued by the victim’s friends, before he was stopped by door staff and arrested by police.

Officers took his details and then let him go, magistrates were told.

Mrs Ariss said the defendant had just been made redundant at the time of the crime.

She added that he was also in the middle of a break-up with his long-term partner when the attack happened on October 6.

The solicitor said: “He said it could have ended so differently. He feels very apologetic to the victim.”

The court received two references, from Sturman’s partner and a pub landlord, vouching for his character.

Shafquat Reaz, prosecuting, read out a statement provided by Mr Lambert, explaining how the attack had affected him.

The 36-year-old said he had a one-year-old child and was concerned that Sturman could have killed him.

He added: “I wouldn’t want anything like what happened to me to happen to anyone else again.”

Mr Reaz said Sturman punched the right side of the victim’s face.

He added: “It caused him to fall to the ground. There were no lasting injuries and no medical assistance was sought.”

Sturman, who has no previous convictions, initially pleaded not guilty to the attack, however he changed his plea to guilty on March 11, before the start of his trial.

Worcester Magistrates Court told the defendant to pay a £135 fine, £135 in costs, £50 in compensation and a £30 victim surcharge on Thursday. Mr Knight, chair of the bench, said: “We hope you have learned from this incident.”