A BINSTEAD man was so drunk he barged his way into a garden and attacked a woman by drenching her with stagnant water, before spinning her around, spitting at her continuously and punching her.

Dean Delaney, who denied assaulting Roberta Powell by beating, and a common assault against Kira Rogers, in Binstead, on June 29, was found guilty after a trial.

At around 9pm, Miss Powell and her friend were sitting in the garden, when the side gate to the property was pushed open and Delaney barged his way in, knocking over a bin on his way through, said Ann Smout, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Miss Powell knew Delaney, of Beatrice Close, Binstead, and immediately thought he was under the influence of drink or drugs.

"He picked up an empty carrier bag in the garden, with stagnant water in it, and threw it at Miss Powell, which hit her and got her wet," said Mrs Smout.

"She told him to leave, but Delaney lost his cool — picking up a recycling bin and hurling it against the house, before heading towards the gate.

"Angry about what happened, Miss Powell went to shut the gate and called him disgusting. With this, he attacked her by grabbing her arms and spinning her around."

Delaney then spat in her face about 20 times and slapped her, and as she tried to push him towards the path, he grabbed her and they both went to the ground.

He then grabbed Miss Powell's hair and punched her. She suffered bruising to her arms following the assault.

"As he managed to get up and head towards the safety of her property, Miss Rogers tried to intervene and protect her friend, seriously worried for her," said Mrs Smout.

"Delaney turned to her and said 'Do you want some too?', then spat at her, which missed."

When arrested, Delaney said whatever he had done had been in self-defence.

"I've been prosecuting for more than 20 years now and it is one of the most bizarre trials I have ever prosecuted," Mrs Smout told the court.

"Delaney never asked the two victims any questions and had been given every encouragement to do so by the legal advisor and a very experienced bench.

"He gave evidence, but a completely different account, which had not been put to the two victims."

Delaney, unrepresented, said he continued to stand with his denial of the victims' assaults.

Magistrates, having considered a probation report, handed Delaney a 12-month community order to complete 200 hours' unpaid work, with £650 costs, a £95 victim surcharge and and order to pay £100 compensation to Miss Powell.