Losing his job as a brewery delivery man because he had headbutted one of his customers had been the biggest punishment a 21-year-old Penzance man could have had,  Truro magistrates were told.

Matthew Dean Stevens, of Chy an Gweal, Penzance, pleaded guilty to assaulting Simon Taylor on December 21.

Alison May, for the CPS, said defendant had been banned from the Humphry Davy pub, where Mr Taylor was the landlord. On December 21 in the evening he was told he could stay for just ten minutes and no more, but he took exception to this and headbutted Mr Taylor on the nose before slamming the door on the way out.

He told the police he had been drinking since 1.30pm and had had about ten pints and could not remember what had happened to the landlord. He had a previous caution last year for battery.

His solicitor Polly Morley said Stevens had no explanation for his behaviour, which had appalled him.

He used to work for the St Austell Brewery, delivering at the pub, and had known Mr Taylor through that. He had lost his job because of what he did and had been extremely saddened by that as he had hoped to progress within the company.

“This is the biggest punishment for him to lose a job which he dearly loved” she added.

Since then he had reconsidered his drinking habits and cut back on his intake.

The case was adjourned for a probation report.