A SCAFFOLDER punched a Herefordshire shop owner in the face in a row over flooding.

Callum Davey entered a guilty plea to magistrates in Hereford.

It had been raining heavily when Davey was approached by business owner Jatinder Singh, who was concerned that a scaffolding board was blocking a drain, causing flooding at his J-Mart shop in Leominster just after 1pm on December 7, prosecutor Mark Hambling said.

But Davey took issue with the request, Mr Singh said in a statement, telling the shop owner he would 'sort him out'.

Mr Singh was punched in the face, suffering a cut to his nose, and a scuffle broke out, with both men falling to the floor.

In a police interview, Davey said he had lost his temper after Mr Singh was abusive and aggressive towards him.

The court heard Davey has previous convictions for offences including battery, disorderly conduct, and causing actual bodily harm.

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Marilena Di Vitantonio, for Davey, said the 29-year-old scaffolding company boss had started his business before lockdown, that it had been a very stressful period for him, and that the scuffle had started after blood from Mr Singh's cut nose had got on him, which he took exception to.

"On that day the man in question made a comment about the scaffolding, and it appears the scaffolding was not the issue," Miss Di Vitantonio said.

"He was trying to tell Mr Singh that, but he was not listening. He accepts that he lost his temper."

Miss Di Vitantonio said that while Davey's last conviction was in 2018, the offence was committed in 2017, and that he has not offended in five years.

"That is down to maturity, settling down, and becoming a responsible adult, and he does not want to be before the court again," she said.

Davey, of Mayberry Avenue, Hereford, was fined £615 and must pay compensation of £150 to Mr Singh. He must also pay costs of £135 and a £62 victim surcharge.