A YOB bottled a man over the head after a “trivial” pub row over a cigarette packet.

Joshua Stephenson was with his girlfriend at a pub when the argument started with Maxine Hall and Mark Rhodes in March last year.

The 23-year-old tried to throw punches at Mr Rhodes, until he was put in a headlock.

Despite both men being told to leave, violence continued outside, when Stephenson attacked Mr Rhodes with a shoulder bag, and then with a bottle.

At Lewes Crown court he admitted grievous bodily harm with intent at Lewes Crown Court, where he was jailed for four years and six months for the attack.

Janice Brennan, prosecuting, said the two parties did not know each other,and had been asked to leave the Punch and Judy pub in Bognor pub by separate doors.

She said: “Trouble erupted again outside the pub. Stephenson clearly wanted to continue the argument and hit Mr Rhodes on the head with a shoulder. He then left the scene, but didn’t stay away.

“He armed himself with a bottle and returned to attack Mr Rhodes again to the head, causing the bottle to smash, and Mr Rhodes suffered a laceration behind his left ear and to his forehead.”

She said Stephenson, formerly of Upper Bognor Road in Bognor, has previous convictions for assault, assaulting a police officer, sending an offensive communication, and racist harassment.

He was already subject to a 28-week suspended prison sentence at the time of the attack at the Punch and Judy.

Paul Luttman, defending, said Stephenson, who wept as he was sentenced, regretted his actions and was remorseful.

He argued the attack was not part of a “sustained” period of violence but was instead an isolated act.

Mr Luttman said Stephenson had a “chaotic” upbringing, leaving home at 15, and has anger and alcohol problems.

Recorder Joshua Swirsky said: “This was a brawl that then got out of hand. Like most pub fights, it started over almost nothing, a trivial argument over a cigarette packet ended up as a serious incident.”