AN ALCOHOLIC who went on a drinking binge lost control in a Langport kebab shop and subjected the owner to a torrent of vile abuse before assaulting him.

Sean Francis Martin had been sober for 15 months when he downed 12 pints of cider and had no recollection of the incident during which he persistently asked the victim for sex and then leapt onto the shop counter and punched him in the face.

Another member of staff helped to restrain the defendant who was struggling and lashing out. By the time the police arrived, damage had also been caused inside the shop.

Martin, 44, of Bedminster Road, Bristol, pleaded guilty to assaulting Aytekin Sen by beating and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards him at Chubbys Kebab Shop in Langport.

He also admitted a further charge of causing criminal damage during his outburst on July 13 when he appeared before South Somerset Magistrates.

Prosecutor Sarah Rhodes said that Martin was asked to leave the shop in Bow Street at 10.10pm by Mr Sen due to the comments he was making towards him.

His friend took him outside but Martin started shouting and swearing.

Five minutes later he returned to the shop and made a sexually explicit comment towards the owner.

She said: "He was told to leave again but kept shouting and swearing and then leapt onto the counter to get to Mr Sen but was pushed back down by another staff member.

"The victim said he had knives and hot oil behind him and didn't want him coming to the other side of the counter but the defendant then jumped up and punched him to the side of his face, leaving him with a cut ear.

"Martin tried to get through the counter door and then grabbed Mr Sen by his T-shirt but another member of staff grabbed the defendant and took him down to the floor."

While Martin was being restrained he was lashing out and swearing and wanted to stand up and fight Mr Sen but was then arrested by the police.

The court was told that during the incident, the wooden serving counter of the shop was damaged at a cost of £500 along with a window on a fridge estimated at £800.

Mr Sen was left with a bruised and swollen ear and had told police he could not believe what had happened, especially in front of female customers.

Mrs Rhodes added: "He told police that Martin had been aggressive, rude and disgusting and kept asking him for sex and was concerned for his own safety and that of his staff.

"When the defendant was interviewed he said he was an alcoholic and had not drunk for 15 months.

"All he could remember was being in a pub and being involved in a scuffle and admitted he had drunk about 12 pints of cider.

"When told about the alleged sexual remarks he said he was not surprised as that was the sort of thing he would do when he was drunk."

Defending solicitor Gareth Webb said it was a very sad situation and his client accepted he had behaved disgracefully.

He said that Martin had no recollection of what happened but denied causing damage to the fridge window as local customers had told him it was already damaged previously.

The magistrates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report to be prepared by the Probation Service and ordered Martin to return to the court on October 6.

In the meantime he was released on unconditional bail.