A MALVERN man who battered a farm worker around the head with a metal bar has been jailed.

David Hodgkins, aged 27, of The Glade, was given a 20-week sentence at Worcester Magistrates Court after being found guilty at an earlier hearing.

Hodgkins, who has a long record of violent offences, including battery, pleaded not guilty to common assault at his trial on Friday, August 3. The court was told that Neil Farmer was left with cuts to his head and a swollen and black eye after the assault on March 9 in Clifton upon Teme.

Matt Dodson, prosecuting, said Mr Farmer “feared for his personal safety” during the attack, which happened after he told Hodgkins to leave his land.

Hodgkins was sat in the passenger seat of the truck, which had scrap metal in the back, and was parked up on the farm.

When he was told to leave he produced a 3ft metal bar from between the seats and hit him with the bar around his head five or six times.

During the assault Hodgkins also had a wheel brace in his hand and threatened Mr Farmer twice saying: “I’m going to shoot you.”

Andy Childs, defending, said that the brothers had come to the farm to collect an old pick-up truck after they were told by Mr Farmer’s father to speak to his son about it.

“He deeply regrets this whole business on a day when he thought he was going to drive off with a scrap car, but it wasn’t to be,” he said.

“Here is a man who is industrious and wants to get on with his life. “Unfortunately, this incident has held him back yet again.”

Jailing Hodgkins, district judge Nigel Cadbury said: “The last eight of nine years are littered with previous offences of violence of one kind or another.

“You had a weapon in the car within reach. It was there and ready for confrontation. You were perfectly prepared and ready to use it.”