A DRUNK thug who attacked a pensioner after being told to drink up and leave Witham Town Football Club has been spared jail.

Jeremy Carabott left Witham Football Club vice-president Kenneth Wright, 72, with horrific facial injuries after being “encouraged to finish his drink”, Chelmsford Crown Court was told.

Carabott, 39, of Speedwell Close, first grabbed Mr Wright before marching outside and punching him twice in the face as he tried to close up the club’s bar in Spa Road, Witham.

Last Wednesday, Carabott was handed a suspended sentence after admitting common assault and assault causing actual bodily harm.

Geoffrey Porter, prosecuting, said: “Mr Wright is retired and has a retirement job working behind the bar at the club.

“The defendant was at the club and spending quite a lot of time there on his own. The defendent appeared to be taking a photo of Leanne Puttock, a bar steward. He was then spoken to by Mr Wright, who asked him to stop.

“The defendent had to be encouraged to finish his drink.

"He then grabbed Mr Wright from across the bar and held him towards him.

“Mr Wright’s tie was tightened around his neck and he had difficulty breathing. His chin was on or just above the bar. He was getting faint and out of breath.”

Ms Puttock managed to persuade Mr Carabott to let him go and leave.

Mr Porter added: “Mr Wright then went outside to put down the shutters. Mr Carabott came out, punched him twice to the left side of his face or his eye.

“He was shocked and Miss Puttock described hearing a thud and him slumped against the wall or cladding. He had swelling to the face.

“The defendent left and was arrested some three days later at another pub.”

Mitigating, Gavin Capper, said Carabott had asked to be handed a curfew to “be protected from further allegations”.

He added: “He has had alienation from the community. They don’t like the look of him, in short.”

Anthony Goldstaub QC sentenced Carabott to four months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

He was also given a curfew and a restraining order barring him from the club and contact Mr Wright or Ms Puttock.

He said: “The gentleman was in his late 60s or mid 70s when you attacked him for reasons that remain unknown, even to yourself.

“It was very important that you shouldn’t be involved in any incident of this kind again.

“If you do it again, the courts will begin to suspect you are dangerous.”