A MAN who carried out an unprovoked attack in Crewkerne town centre on the night of the Christmas light switch-on told police he had no memory of it.

Darren Runcieman, 47, of Down Close, North Perrott, admitted assaulting Frank Joyce by beating him at Crewkerne on November 27 when he appeared before Somerset Magistrates Court.

The court heard the victim was standing outside the George Hotel and Runcieman got up from a bench, ran towards him and headbutted in the face, causing him to fall.

When the defendant appeared before Somerset Magistrates, they were told he had drunk two bottles of wine earlier that evening, and when shown CCTV footage of the offence, he could not recall anything about the incident.

The court was told that the police were called at 10.40pm by the victim to say he had been assaulted outside the George Hotel in Crewkerne.

Prosecutor Christine Hart said: “He was headbutted by the defendant causing him to fall to the floor, suffering bruising and cuts to his back and cuts to his hands.

“He said he saw a male and female sitting on a bench and the next thing he knew, the male ran towards him and headbutted him in the face.

“The victim said he was really surprised because he had no previous contact with the defendant and during the assault he said Runcieman made no sound or made no comments and then just walked away.”

Miss Hart said the incident was caught on CCTV and when the defendant was interviewed by police, he said he had gone to town to watch the Christmas lights being turned on, drank two bottles of wine in a wine bar and could not remember anything after that.

He said he woke up the next morning at home and when shown the CCTV identified himself, but he said could not recall doing it or why and didn't know why he did it.

Defending solicitor Ray Peters said Runcieman worked as a tarmaccer in the London area during the week, and returned home for the weekends and had no recollection of the events whatsoever.

“There were issues within his relationship that were causing him concerns and pressures which may have been the reason he drank the amount of alcohol he did that night,” he said.

“Through me he wishes to apologise to the victim and extend his sincere apologies to the victim and others involved in the incident.”

The magistrates sentenced him to a 12-month community order with a requirement to carry out 100 hours' unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay plus £100 compensation to Mr Boyce along with £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.