ANGRY Gary Potter headbutted a shop boss in a bungled revenge attack because he mistakenly thought the manager had done the same to his girlfriend.

The 23-year-old was drunk and had been egged on by his lover when he walked into the Ombersley Road Co-op and confronted manager Ian Merrick.

"Potter approached Mr Merrick and accused him of assaulting his girlfriend," said Pat Sullivan, prosecuting at Worcester Magistrates Court yesterday.

"Without provocation, Potter headbutted Mr Merrick in the face."

Reading from Mr Merrick's statement, Mr Sullivan told the court Potter struck the shop boss in the mouth and on the face.

"I felt a sharp pain in my lips and I knew I had been headbutted," the manager's statement read.

Potter believed Mr Merrick had attacked his girlfriend when he lashed out on Tuesday, February 5. Since then, he had found this not to be the case.

"His girlfriend had goaded him and he had been very drunk at the time," Mr Sullivan told the court.

Mark Shewerd, defending, said drinking had affected his client's judgement.

"She told Potter she had been assaulted by Mr Merrick, but that is not correct, and Potter accepts that is not correct," he said.

"That is why he decided to remonstrate with the manager."

Potter, of Braley House, Ombersley Road, Worcester, admitted assault and apologised to Mr Merrick.

Potter was bailed so a pre-sentence report could be prepared for the next hearing on Friday, July 26.

"We are not ruling out committing you to Crown Court for sentencing," said the chairwoman of the bench.