A MAN born on a Swindon council estate told police that assaulting people who wronged you was the normal way of taking justice, the town’s magistrates heard.

Luke Chapman, 27, of Trowbridge Close, pleaded guilty to assault by beating on June 23 this year and on the same date to assaulting a police community support officer and to failing to provide a blood specimen for analysis.

Pauline Lambert, prosecuting, told magistrates that on June 23 a man known to Chapman had been cycling in Pinehurst towards Linden Avenue when a car containing three men mounted the pavement.

The car drove very close behind the bicycle before running it into the bushes, where the victim fell off.

Chapman got out of the car and punched the victim once on his ear and landed several other punches.

A passing PCSO saw the assault and as he went to restrain Chapman he was pushed and kicked and fell to the floor, resulting in cuts to his hand and more minor injuries to his knee and elbow, Ms Lambert said.

The police were called and found large quantities of cannabis and drugs paraphernalia in the car.

Chapman appeared to be drowsy but a roadside breath test proved negative.

He refused to provide a sample of his blood.

When interviewed by police later Chapman said that he was angry with the victim because when he had been riding a moped the wrong way down a road the victim had shouted at him and chased him. He therefore took retribution.

He said when you were born on a council estate, assaulting people who had wronged you was the normal way to take justice. He admitted kicking the PCSO because he was trying to escape.

Caroline Williams, defending, said Chapman had not been driving the car when the victim had been knocked off his bike. He said he had been provoked by the victim because when he had chased Chapman on his moped the victim had a knife.

She added that Chapman did not like needles so had offered the police a urine sample rather than blood but the offer had been refused.

The magistrates sentenced Chapman to an 18-month community order to include 19 days of thinking skills, 10 rehabilitation activity days and 150 hours of unpaid work in the community.

He was disqualified from driving for 12 months, ordered to pay £50 compensation to the PCSO and to pay a victim surcharge of £85.