A MAN so drunk he lost consciousness and had fellow pub-goers scrawl on him, was then punched in the face by a fellow drinker who did not like him.
Joe Hawkins, 21, of Longshots Close, Chelmsford, struck Liam O'Keefe during a drinking binge in the Wheatsheaf pub in New Street on Friday, November 21.
Chelmsford Magistrates' Court heard on Friday Mr O'Keefe had been drinking in the pub and had taken himself off to a booth to fall asleep.
Fellow revellers then took it in turns to draw on his face while he was unconscious.
Bar staff said to Hawkins that the sleeping man "might not be happy with that", to which the defendant replied, "he's a ****" and punched the victim in the face.
Hawkins then left the premises and went to the Golden Fleece in Duke Street, where he was arrested by police.
He told officers he thought he saw Mr O'Keefe coming around to hit him and so he launched a pre-emptive strike.
Mr O'Keefe was taken to hospital with a suspected fractured nose and had no recollection of the night's events.
It was only due to the bar staff witnessing the assault that police were able to arrest the defendant.
He was charged with assault by beating and pleaded guilty at court on Friday.
Hawkins, who represented himself, told the court: "It was a very stupid action from me, it was taken in self-defence as I didn't know whether he was going to attack me, I just panicked."
He was given a one-year supervision requirement, ordered to undertake a 12-day medium alcohol requirement intervention, pay £100 compensation to his victim and £145 costs.
Hawkins will also be tagged from 9pm to 5.30am to stay at his home address for three months.
