A MAN who was told prison was "inevitable" after an unprovoked attack in Worcester narrowly escaped jail after magistrates heard he wanted to turn his back on crime.

David Hughes was told he should expect a prison sentence when he appeared before a district judge at Droitwich Magistrates Court in September charged with assault.

But magistrates yesterday agreed to defer sentencing when he reappeared at the court, allowing Hughes to "rebuild his life".

Mark Soper, prosecuting, told magistrates how the 32-year-old had lashed out at Andrew Smith after getting into a drunken fight with another man in Worcester last November.

"As Mr Smith was walking along High Street and passed the defendant, the defendant punched him in the face," he said.

"During a police interview Hughes told officers he had no memory of what went on."

Hughes, of Goldsmith Road, Warndon, admitted assault.

But Nick Roberts, defending, said Hughes had mistaken Mr Smith for another man.

"My client had been drinking," he said.

"It appears a disagreement had taken place and my client had lashed out. He had never seen the injured party before but clearly believed he was involved."

But he added Hughes, who later told magistrates he no longer took drugs and only drank at home to ensure he kept out of trouble, wanted to rebuild his life because he now had a stable relationship and a job.

"A mix of drink and drugs had led to assaults and burglary, but he seems to have rehabilitated himself. He has a partner who has stood by him through this and who has also seen a change in him. This is a clear chance for him and we should think very carefully before sending him back to custody."

Magistrates deferred sentencing to next April.