Mansfield man thought council worker wanted a fight so punched him

A Mansfield man who punched a council worker in the face because he thought was asking for a fight, will be assessed by psychologists, a court ruled.
Mansfield Magistrates Court.Mansfield Magistrates Court.
Mansfield Magistrates Court.

Luke Forster hit the man when he was cleaning bins on Westgate, Mansfield, on March 8, said Robert Carr, prosecuting.

Forster began following the worker and asked him: “Do you want a fight?”

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“That scared him, so he tried to move backwards,” said Mr Carr.

“The defendant ran at him and punched him in the jaw, before walking off.”

Forster, 38, of Midworth Street, appeared with his social worker when he admitted assault at Mansfield Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The court heard he received a 16 week suspended sentence for assault in October 2016.

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Melanie Hoffman, mitigating, said: “He honestly believed the man was making expressions at him of a demeaning nature, suggesting that he was a loser.

“Mr Forster thought he was asking him for a fight.”

She said he had recently been checked for working age dementia, autism and learning difficulties.

“His social worker explains that the professionals can’t identify his issues,” she said.

“He would benefit from a psychological report.”

Sentencing was adjourned until May 4.

In the meantime Forster was banned from contacting any member of Mansfield District Council, and from entering the town centre, except for visits to his GP and solicitor.