A SINGLE punch during a parking row cost a Redditch teenager his £16,000 a year job.

Patrick Carr lashed out at neighbour Robert Jones, knocking him unconscious.

Mr Jones had gone to Carr's home to complain that his van had twice been parked in front of his garage, blocking him in.

Their respective partners got into a fight before Carr landed the blow on the 50-year-old victim, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Carr, aged 18, of Kempsey Close, Woodrow, was sacked from his job with a sub-contractor for the Ministry of Defence because his conviction lost him security vetting.

He pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm last month.

He was given eight weeks custody and ordered to pay £500 compensation by a district judge sitting at Redditch magistrates court.

But Judge Andrew Geddes dismissed his appeal at Worcester against the detention and told him the compensation payment was due to be reviewed by the magistrates on December 2.

Carr, who was remanded back into custody to continue serving his sentence, twice parked in front of Mr Jones' rented garage in Kempsey Close last August, said Andrew Wallace, prosecuting.

A row broke out at Carr's home and Mr Jones was attacked.

Carr felt immediate remorse and tried to bring him round.

Mr Jones suffered minor cuts to his lip, elbows and head.

Andrew Davidson, defending, said there was a heated argument between the men and the two women then became violent.

Carr asked Mr Jones to sort the fight out but got angry when the victim allegedly failed to respond in a positive manner to his request.

Mr Davidson said Carr had no previous convictions and magistrates - who adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report before it went to the district judge - had indicated a non-custodial sentence.

But Judge Geddes said the custody term had been correct.

"This was a nasty, unprovoked attack of the kind which is becoming far too common when people lose their temper in the street," he added.