A DAD who attacked his ex-girlfriend's partner with a knuckle duster claimed he was acting in self-defence.

Greg Vale and the man he attacked, Nicholas Moore, already 'hated each other's guts' when a fight broke out after a chance meeting Worcester Crown Court was told on Monday.

The 35-year-old of Weston Road, Bretforton, near Evesham, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon following the incident on September 9, 2016.

Michael Conry, prosecuting, said there had been 'some acrimony' leading up to the incident and there had been 'arguments on both sides'.

The two men 'met by chance' when both had legitimate reasons to be in the area, the defendant going to pick up his children from school while Mr Moore had been visiting his parents.

Vale told police he thought the confrontation would involve 'macho staring' but instead there was a fight.

Mr Conry said: "The defendant, having armed himself with a knuckle duster, then used it and caused a number of injuries to the back of the head."

The injuries were described as 'multiple contusions and lacerations over the skull', bruising to both arms and minor cuts to the right arm.

In his first interview Vale exercised his right to answer 'no comment' to questions. A blood stain on the knuckle duster was examined and Mr Moore's DNA was found. In a second interview Vale accepted carrying out the assault but said he was acting in self-defence.

A probation officer who interviewed Vale, who works as a kitchen fitter, described him as 'a functioning alcoholic'.

Vale told the probation officer he was 'assaulted first and retaliated'.

Judge Jim Tindal said: "I see this case in pretty simple terms - you and the complainant in this case, Mr Moore, hate each other's guts."

However, he said Vale had 'crossed the line' by using the knuckle duster, placing the assault in category two of the sentencing guidelines.

The judge sentenced him to an 18 month community order with a programme requirement and ordered him to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.

He said posts Mr Moore had made on social media since the incident had deprived him of his entitlement to compensation and none was awarded.

However, he ordered Vale to pay £100 prosecution costs.