A FORMER soldier who attacked a car driver and an elderly pedestrian in Malvern has been jailed for 15 months.

Worcester Crown Court heard that Adrian Noon, who had been drinking heavily, was only subdued after police used CS spray.

Noon, aged 29, of Tudor Close, Malvern, pleaded guilty to wounding and assault causing actual bodily harm.

His first victim, car driver Jeffrey Worth, wrote to the court saying the attack had left him deeply upset, particularly as he had undergone a spinal operation in 1998. It was the third time in a year he had been the victim of street violence.

He had written to his MP and Home Secretary Jack Straw and refuted a suggestion that he was "a trigger" in the attack, said prosecutor Samantha Crabb.

Mr Worth was driving in Church Street, Malvern, on January 9 when he was confronted by Noon standing in the middle of the road. Noon was eating fish and chips and, as Mr Worth went past, he threw the remains at the car.

Miss Crabb said when Mr Worth got out of the vehicle to see if there was any damage, he was first abused and then punched by Noon. He was knocked to the ground and kicked in the back and legs.

Passer-by Percival Owen went to help but was punched and kicked. A police officer then arrived at the scene and was forced to use CS spray when Noon continued to be aggressive.

Both of Noon's victims were taken to hospital. Mr Owen had nine stitches in a head wound while Mr Worth was treated for a cut and lump on his head.

Noon, who had a conviction for violence in 1990, told police he had drunk eight or nine pints of strong lager on an empty stomach and had little recollection of events.

His counsel, Samantha Forsyth, said Noon had been a soldier for many years and had served in Northern Ireland. Since being discharged, he had been diagnosed as suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome. He accepted he had behaved atrociously and was genuinely sorry for the pain and suffering he had caused.

Judge Marten Coates said Noon had been violent to two innocent members of the public and he would be failing in his duty if he did not send him to jail.