A MAN who attempted to suffocate another man on a busy street has been sentenced in court.

At around 5.45pm on October 10, officers were called to reports of a male suspect assaulting another man in South Street in Dorchester.

It was reported that the victim, a man aged in his 30s, was on the floor while the offender was seen to repeatedly hit him in the head, before attempting to suffocate him and smack his head against the floor.

A spokesman for Dorchester Police said: "The incident was witnessed by several members of the public and when officers arrived they pulled the attacker off his victim. He was arrested and subsequently charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The victim refused medical treatment.

"The offender, a 44-year-old man of no fixed abode, appeared at Poole Magistrates’ Court today, where he entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.

"We would like to thank all the witnesses who gave an account to police. Violent offences of this nature will not be tolerated on our streets and we will take action to identify and prosecute those responsible."