A man who launched an attack on another driver after his wife’s view of the beach was blocked at Porthoustock has been sentenced.

Robert James Cavill Pearson, aged 50, of Droskyn Way, Perranporth, lashed out at Patrick Buxton knocking him to the ground. Mr Buxton was left with with cuts and bruises, Truro magistrates heard. Pearson pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Buxton on July 5.

Chris Hart, for the CPS, said Pearson’s wife was recovering from an operation and their vehicle was parked to give her a view of the sea from inside it.

When Mr Buxton parked Pearson said: “Move that f****** van” and then struck him to the ground.

He then told Mr Buxton he was blocking his wife’s view and in a second confrontation with him struck him and headbutted him.

Pearson said the camper van had pulled across in front of their vehicle, totalling obscuring his wife’s view, when there was plenty of other space to park.

He was in the sea when he heard his wife shouting, and started to panic, not knowing what Mr Buxton was going to do. He struck him, and then when Mr Buxton was “in his face” he panicked again and struck him again.

Paul Simons, his solicitor, said Pearson deeply regretted his action. He was now on medication for his bi-polar condition, which, had he been on at the time, the offences would not have occurred.

Pearson was told to pay £75 to Mr Buxton and £145 costs and surcharge and given a community order for six months putting him under curfew two nights a week for three months.

As he left the court, Pearson apologised to Mr and Mrs Buxton who were sitting in the public gallery.