A DEFENDANT who was given a chance to address his drinking habit has been fined for offences of assault and possessing a bladed article.

Tomasz Pawl Dyrda, 31, had his sentenced deferred in May after admitting assaulting Weymouth taxi driver James Hodder on March 13 and being found with a knife on The Esplanade five days later.

He was told by the judge to continue efforts to tackle his drinking and keep in employment.

Dyrda, who lives and works as a farm hand at Manor Farm, Dorchester, returned to Dorchester Crown Court five months later to be sentenced.

The court was told he had been attending Alcoholics Anonymous. Dyrda was fined £300 for the assault and £700 for the bladed article offence.