Thug, 57, kicked neighbour in head at Madresfield Road flats, Malvern

A Worcester Crown Court judge said only immediate custody was suitable for Spencer Holmes after hearing he kicked his neighbour in the head. 

John Brotherton, prosecuting, explained both Holmes and the victim had lived at the Madresfield Road flats when things came to a head at 11am on January 21, 2022. 

He said initially Holmes blocked the path of the man and was mouthing things to him he could not hear due to having headphones on. 

JAILED: Spencer Holmes (Image: West Mercia Police)

After the victim returned 20 minutes later Holmes blocked his path again. 

This time the victim removed his headphones and Holmes was giving him abuse saying "I hate you."

After the victim replied "Behave Spence", Holmes grabbed him round the throat before punching him to the head. 

Mr Brotherton said, after falling to the floor, Holmes then kicked the victim twice to the head and once in his ribs. 

COURT: Holmes was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court (Image: Hereford Times)

The prosecutor said the man ran home telling his girlfriend to call the police. 

The victim suffered reddening and bruising on the body. 

Holmes had previous convictions for ABH and battery - serving prison sentences in 2001 and 2004, the court heard on Monday, (September 11).

And Mr Brotherton said Holmes was convicted of battery of another neighbour in 2020 and assaulted the same victim in 2021 when he was given a community order. 

Niall Skinner, defending, said the defendant had "overstepped" and acted on impulse after a build-up of tensions between the pair. 

READ MORE: Thief put box of vodka up jumper as he stole from supermarket

READ MORE: Live updates as large emergency service presence at Diglis Docks

READ MORE: Transformation underway to turn old Paperchase into city's newest Costa

Mr Skinner said Holmes had stayed out of trouble since the incident adding "He knows his fighting days must be behind him".

Holmes had admitted the ABH during a trial and Mr Skinner accepted he should have pleaded guilty earlier, but asked for some credit to be given. 

His Honour Judge Nicholas Cartwright said immediate custody was "unavoidable" particularly as he had assaulted the same neighbour before. 

Holmes gave no reaction as he was jailed for a year - showing more concern about his Mountain Warehouse drinks bottle which he had not been able to take into the closed dock.

When the judge told him he could go down he told the dock officer he wanted it back, the officer asking Mr Skinner to bring it with him to a conference after the hearing.