An Isle of Wight man who punched a stranger and grabbed him by the throat in an "unprovoked attack" at Sandown Pier has been jailed.

Appearing via videolink from HMP Albany, Matthew Sutherland, of Royal Street, Sandown, was sentenced at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on May 17.

He previously pleaded guilty to assault by beating and failure to surrender.

Court heard how, on November 27 last year,  Sutherland and a man unknown to him both entered through the same door at Sandown Pier.

Liz Miller, prosecuting, said Sutherland "struck" the man multiple times in his torso and placed his hands around his throat.

He eventually let go and both men went their separate ways.

Ms Miller said Sutherland did not know the victim at all and the incident left him "very scared".

"It was an unprovoked attack", she said.

Defending, Jim Osborne, said at the time of the assault, Sutherland was struggling with mental health issues, was homeless and living on the streets.

Mr Osborne said his client is heavily addicted to drugs and alcohol but is getting help.

He accepts what he did was wrong and expresses remorse, he said.

"He is really sorry that he put him through it", Mr Osborne said.

Magistrates said the assault was unprovoked against a member of the public he did not know.

They agreed that the randomness of the offence crossed the custody threshold.

Sutherland was sentenced to four weeks in prison and ordered to pay a surcharge of £154.