Alhric Drew Nicolas attacked the victim in his own home on the evening of 5 July, punching him, kicking him to the ground, hitting him with a ladder and repeatedly stamping on him, the Magistrate’s Court was told.
Crown Advocate Katie Ridley, prosecuting, said the police had arrived just after 9.40pm and found the victim outside his home, covered in blood from an injury to his face, and being looked after by members of the public.
Under interview Nicolas denied hitting the victim with the ladder intentionally, and maintained that he had pushed his face rather than punching it.
He has a previous conviction for a breach of the peace from 2009 and pleaded guilty to grave and criminal assault.
Advocate James Bell, defending, said: “He does regret what happened. It does seem to be an isolated incident.”
He said Nicolas was considered a “vulnerable adult” and explained: “For many years Mr Nicolas has not received as much support from outside agencies as he needed.”
His difficulties make it difficult for him to work among large groups, as might happen under a community service order, the advocate said. So he said: “In the unusual circumstances of this case it could be considered more appropriate to impose a financial penalty.”
The Magistrate, Bridget Shaw, told Nicolas that he was lucky his victim had not sustained life-changing injuries, saying: “What you did was very wrong. You are quite a big man and you could have caused a lot of harm. I think it is serious enough to send you to prison.”
However she decided instead to impose a £2,00e fine, adding: “It is not a question of whether community service could cope with Mr Nicolas. It is whether Mr Nicolas could cope with community service.”
She allowed him to pay at the rate of £50 per week.