A MAN who punched and kicked a stranger while he was sitting in his car was caught after his victim tracked him down via social networking site Bebo.

The man found a picture of his attacker on the website, where people can publish profiles of themselves, and took it to police.

Joshua Johnson admitted assaulting and causing actual bodily harm to Benjamin Newman as well as causing £258.50 worth of damage to Mr Newman's Peugeot 106.

Worcester Magistrates Court heard Mr Newman was sitting in his car waiting for a friend in Gresham Road, Dines Green when Johnson came to the driver's side of the car and asked him who he knew in the area.

Emma Lile, prosecuting, said Johnson, aged 18, reached through the window and punched him to the side of his face twice, causing him to lose the cap from one of his front teeth. Miss Lile said Johnson opened the passenger door and continued to punch Mr Newman before kicking him in the ribs. He then kicked the rear of the car causing a dent.

Miss Lile said: "Mr Newman had bruising around his right eye, general bruising and lumps to the back of the head and bruises to ribs. He did not know the man but discovered his nickname and looked it up on Bebo, the social networking site, where the defendant had posted a picture of himself."

Miss Lile said that Johnson, of Damson Way, Suckley, near Malvern, said he had split up with his girlfriend and had heard rumours Mr Newman wanted to beat him up.

He wanted to apologise to Mr Newman but did not know what to say or how to say it.

Mr Newman needed dental treatment costing £59.59 and had lost earnings of £44.

Judith Kenney, defending, said there was mitigation but asked magistrates to order a probation report. Sentencing was adjourned until Thursday, February 14.