A MAN knocked a 70-year-old pensioner out cold in an unprovoked attack outside a village pub.

Leo Phillips appeared at North Somerset Courthouse on Tuesday and admitted assaulting Roger Chamberlain and two other men at The Woodspring pub in Worle High Street.

The court heard that the incident happened at about 12.45am on June 18 while 23-year-old Phillips, of Becket Road, Worle, was drinking in the pub.

Kelly Marshall, prosecuting, said that he had been sitting near to Ben Giles inside the pub, when he suddenly stood up and hit him in the face with his right fist.

Mr Giles was knocked to the floor by the blow, but he stood up and returned a punch at Phillips, who then left the pub.

Keith Mann, a regular at the pub, was standing outside when the defendant emerged and swore at him, before saying: ‘if you think you’re hard enough come and have a go’ before punching him.

Phillips then left the scene for about 15 minutes before returning just as 70-year-old Mr Chamberlain was leaving the pub.

He hit him in the face, with the force of the blow knocking him unconscious. He was taken to accident and emergency at Weston General Hospital for treatment to a head injury, which Ms Marshall said had not led to any further health issues.

Referring to Phillips and Mr Giles: “They had both been drinking that evening, but Philips launched into an attack on Mr Giles for no reason whatsoever. It was a completely unprovoked assault.”

Sue Cameron, defending, said Phillips was currently seeing a psychiatrist, and that he was taking medication. He had initially pleaded not guilty to three charges of assault, but changed his plea before appearing at the court.

He was released on unconditional bail before appearing back at the court on December 22.