Man punched another during row in town

Darius Bryan, 18, of Lower Park Road, approached his victim in Queens Road while riding his bike of the afternoon of August 16.

At a court hearing on Tuesday, Mark Kateley, prosecuting, said: "An argument developed between the two parties over what had apparently been said on social networking website Facebook.

"The defendant was not very happy with the aggrieved being 'in his area'.

"He struck him in the face causing the victim to sustain a one-inch cut on the inside of his lip."

Bryan was arrested by police and declined to make any comment about the attack during his interview with officers, Mr Kateley told magistrates during the hearing.

He pleaded guilty to one charge of assault by beating when he appeared before Hastings magistrates in court on Tuesday.

The court heard he had a previous conviction for assault.

Kim Goodall, defending, said: "The incident was nothing to do with Facebook whatsoever.

"He said there had been a previous altercation when the aggrieved's party was trying to steal the defendant's bike.

"There is some history between the two of them. The defendant apologises for what happened.

"Through me he assures the court there will be no repetition of this."

Magistrates gave Bryan a 12-month community order in which he must do 120 hours of unpaid work.

He must also pay 85 court costs and 75 compensation.