AN airman on leave had two teeth knocked out when he was violently pushed into a shop doorway during a fracas in Evesham town centre.

A video recording at Worcester Crown Court showed Philip Hathaway under attack by 26-year-old Robert Hamstead on April 3. Judge Alistair McCreath commented "It was an almighty shove" and it left Mr Hathaway prostrate on the pavement as Hamstead ran off.

Hamstead, of Mount Crescent, Stratford-on-Avon, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm. He was given a 12-month community order and told to carry out 240 hours unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to his victim.

Edward Soulsby, defending, said the offence was out of character and Hamstead had not been for a night out since. He had worked for ten years as a useful member of society and intended to get married next year. He had also borrowed to pay for his own legal defence.

Judge McCreath said that having seen the video, he found it difficult to accept that Hamstead was motivated to stop the violence, not perpetuate it. But he sentenced on the basis that Hamstead had acted recklessly.