A man was assaulted with a bin in broad daylight outside a Weymouth supermarket, a court heard.

Gary Thomas Bell, 35, admitted attacking Justyn Steven Walker in February this year.

Bell, of Abbotsbury Road in Weymouth, appeared at Weymouth Magistrates Court to be sentenced after pleading guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm (ABH).

Elizabeth Valera, prosecuting, told the court that at around 10.15am on Saturday, February 2, three men known to each other, including Bell and Mr Walker, were seen on CCTV "strolling along" near Asda on Newstead Road.

She said: "We see them come in front of Asda, when for no apparent reason, we see Bell assault Mr Walker by pushing him up against the doors of Asda."

Mrs Valera told magistrates that Bell then hit Mr Walker's head and pushed him to the floor before picking up a bin which is "plastic but weighted by concrete", and hitting Mr Walker on the head with it while he was lying on the floor.

Bell then kicked his victim's upper body and walked off.

Mrs Valera called it a "nasty assault" but said that Mr Walker had refused to give a statement. Other statements provided by Asda staff were not read to magistrates.

Photos shown to the court showed blood on the ground near the supermarket entrance, as well as a picture of Mr Walker's injuries.

Bell previously pleaded guilty to the assault charge at the same court on February 4, but the case was adjourned until Wednesday (27) for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

Chairman of the bench, Judith Boichot, said magistrates had seen "background evidence" which they believed showed that there was "provocation" before the assault.

Sentencing Bell, Mrs Boichot said: "We feel in this case, there was a certain amount of provocation. You've pleaded guilty, you've co-operated and you've kept out of trouble.

"Although it is an extremely serious offence, we do feel that you would be best helped by a community order."

Bell was handed a 12-month community order with 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days, and was ordered to pay £40 in compensation as well as £135 in fines and costs.