FLOWER shop staff were subjected to a "traumatic unprovoked attack" by a neighbouring cafe owner after requesting his staff stop smoking outside their business.

Gregg Kitson and Julie Bennett, owners of Hopmarket Flowers, were left bloodied after they were attacked in their shop by neighbouring business owner Rebaz Tahir.

Tahir pleaded not guilty, but was found guilty of two counts of assault by beating at Worcester Magistrates Court.

The pair have a restraining order against Tahir - he cannot contact Mr Kitson or Ms Bennett unless it is through his solicitor. 

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Tahir punched Mr Kitson and Ms Bennett multiple times after Mr Kitson asked for staff from Black & White cafe to stop smoking near the flowers shop's open windows.

Ms Bennett said: "He was like a wild animal out of control, I have never been so frightened and I am a cancer survivor."

Mr Kitson, a pensioner, said: "I am a pensioner and at the time of the attack I had third nerve palsy and double vision in my left eye due to a recent stroke.

"Rebaz came bursting at the back door, swearing and asked us if we spoke to his staff, to which I said yes.

"I was sat in the shop and he lunged at me and started hitting me until blood began pouring from my face.

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"There was another person in the store who managed to get between us, and forced him towards the backdoor where he punched Julie in the face and once again on the back of the head.

"I went to Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre afterwards and doctors told me that the attack had slowed my recovery after my stroke."

They managed to lock the door behind Tahir, who started to punch the glass and shout threats as his staff tried to pull him away.

Ms Bennett said: "My 999 call was 10 minutes long and it's harrowing.

"When I had to listen back in court the magistrate allowed me to sit down because I could barely stand where I was shaking that much."

The shop, in Foregate Street, was closed for four weeks after the attack.

Mr Kitson said: "We close early so we do not bump into him in the car park, it's terrifying. He is unpredictable.

"We adore our shop. But the attack made us lose our mojo.

"We are slowly getting back to normality but it has not been at all easy."