A MAN who feared for the safety of his 12-month-old baby in his own flat was subjected to a vicious attack with a rounders bat.

Thomas Sheehan was also struck with a glass vase as he tried to eject Gordon Simmonds from his home in Fernhill Heath, Worcester magistrates were told.

The defendant had pushed into the victim's home in pursuit of the brother of Mr Sheehan's girlfriend, who had allegedly stolen Simmonds' mobile phone.

But after tapping Simmonds on the shoulder and asking him to leave, Mr Sheehan was subjected to a vicious attack which left him with a swollen jaw, cuts to the head and bruising to the chest and ribs, the court heard.

Simmonds, aged 26, who represented himself, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.

Stuart Mason-Parker, prosecuting, told magistrates the assault occurred at around 9.50am on Tuesday, December 12, at flats by Eastfields Close in Fernhill Heath.

Simmonds of Farmers Green, Westlands, Droitwich, found the victim and his girlfriend's brother and made threatening gestures which led to the brother fleeing inside.

In the flat Mr Sheehan came across Simmonds who appeared to be threatening his girlfriend's brother.

"The baby was screaming and there was general chaos in the flat at the time," said Mr Mason-Parker.

But after the victim tried to ask the defendant to leave, he was attacked.

The court heard that the defendant punched Mr Sheehan, twice tried to head-butt him, and kicked and kneed him.

Simmonds then grabbed hold of a rounders bat and struck Mr Sheehan, and when he was disarmed of that, picked up a glass vase and proceeded to hit Mr Sheehan on the head with it.

The pair fell to the floor and Simmonds bit Mr Sheehans' ear before police arrived and arrested him.

Simmonds said he had been struck first by the rounders bat which had been fetched by Mr Sheehan from his bedroom.

Magistrates adjourned the case for a Newton Hearing - to establish the facts over the rounders bat - and sentencing at Worcester Crown Court on Friday, January 19.