A MAN who launched a vicious random attack on a customer inside a Street pub leaving him with a perforated eardrum has been warned he could face a prison sentence.

Jonathan Carpenter had been drinking when he began striking up conversations with customers at The Street Inn and putting his arms around them.

He approached a male who was sat down having a drink and after taking issue with something carpenter said the male stood up and without provocation was repeatedly punched in the face causing him to stumble and hit his head.

After seeking medical advice the victim was told his eardrum had been perforated, and more than 10 months after the attack a court was told he was still suffering hearing loss and may require surgery.

Carpenter, 31, of Bove Moor Road, Street, pleaded guilty to assaulting Gary David Richards causing him actual bodily harm on October 29 last year when he appeared before Somerset Magistrates at Yeovil.

Prosecutor Emma Lenanton said that the victim was not known to the defendant who were both customers at The Street Inn where the incident was captured on CCTV.

She said Carpenter appeared to be in drink and appeared happy while approaching members of the public who were there, putting his arms around them and being animated.

“He approached the victim a number of times and was in conversation with him and put his arm around him but the victim had an issue with something he said,” said Miss Lenanton.

“He put his arms between them and stood up, and without warning Carpenter punched the victim to his face repeatedly, striking him about seven or eight times.”

Mr Richards stumbled and fell and may have hit his head on a table but he went home and the following morning had numbness to his teeth and loss of hearing.

He was treated at Musgrove Park Hospital for a perforated eardrum, and the court was told that his condition had not yet been resolved.

Defending solicitor Jeffrey Bannister said that Carpenter had no previous convictions and was hoping the matter could be dealt with by the magistrates’ court.

The case was adjourned until October 11 for sentencing to enable a report to be prepared by the Probation Service. The magistrates said that all options would be considered at the next hearing including custody or a committal to the crown court.