A MAN who uses alcohol to blot out the pain of his father’s death attacked his half-brother during a row at the family home.

Victim Ashley Dominiak suffered black eyes and a cut mouth.

Nicholas Powell, of Penbury Street, off Droitwich Road, Worcester, admitted assaulting his half-brother when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester.

The court was told how the 31-year-old returned home from work heavily intoxicated on the evening of Saturday, May 7.

Sarah Stock, prosecuting, said Powell was verbally abusive to his mother, who managed to calm him down, and he lay on the sofa.

His half-brother came downstairs, voiced his opinion, and the argument began again.

Mr Dominiak decided to call the police and Powell tried to grab the phone off him. Mrs Stock said: “As a result of that Mr Dominiak tried to restrain his brother by placing him in a headlock. He punched Mr Dominiak in the stomach and gouged at his face and tried to put his fingers in his mouth and pull it open.

“Mr Dominiak accepts he bit his brother’s fingers.”

Police arrived to find Powell heavily intoxicated with blood on his hands, said Mrs Stock.

Powell was also injured, suffering bruising to his right eye and a cut to his finger and thumb.

Powell told police he had drunk seven pints from about 1pm that day and had argued with a man at work.

Ruth Edwards, defending, said Powell’s dad had died on May 6, 2006, and this incident took place a day after the anniversary of the death. Magistrates ordered a full pre-sentence report to be carried out and Powell is due back in court on Monday, June 13.