A WORCESTER council refuse collector carried out a vicious attack on a work colleague after a "spying" complaint by his girlfriend.

Andrew Johnson rushed at Jason May, punched him to the ground and kicked him with his heavy work boots.

But as other onlookers watched the violence in Ennerdale Close, Worcester, courageous neighbour Julia Hodgson intervened and stopped it.

Recorder Alan Parker commended Mrs Hodgson for her "remarkable bravery" and said: "She made him come to his senses."

He told Johnson, aged 31, of Fitzwilliam Close, Worcester, he should be grateful to her because the consequences of the assault could have been much worse.

Mr May, 28, was taken to hospital with two rib fractures. He also had injuries to his back, arms and neck.

The recorder sentenced Johnson - who admitted assault causing actual bodily harm - to 10 months in jail, suspended for two years, and ordered him to be supervised by the probation service for the same period.

He has also been ordered to pay his victim compensation of £1,000.

The recorder said Johnson would pose a risk to the public if he had been jailed and was then released unsupervised.

He also accepted mitigation by defence counsel Richard Bond that Johnson cared for his sick mother.

Johnson, employed by Worcester City Council, wept as the recorder said: "This was a despicable attack on a defenceless man.

"You were wound up by your girlfriend, but violence is never a solution."

Peter Parson, prosecuting, said the defendant's partner Rebecca Gormley had gone out with Mr May in the past.

On October 13 last year she phoned Johnson to complain that Mr May was pestering her again, Worcester Crown Court was told.

Johnson told police that Mr May was "spying on them" but he admitted being ashamed of his attack. He had previous convictions for common assault on a woman and assault on police.

Mr Bond claimed Miss Gormley "over the years had been harassed in varying degrees by the complainant".

When he got the phone call, Johnson "saw red and totally lost his temper".

Mr Bond said: "He expresses his remorse and wishes he could put the clock back."

Johnson had now made a witness statement to police about Mr May.