A PENSIONER who punched the manager of a care home in a row over his mother-in-law remains defiant.

Victor Williams, 68, was given a conditional discharge after hitting Christopher Smith in the face at Ashbury Lodge, on Marlborough Road, Swindon.

Williams, of Maitland Road, Walcot, was furious with staff at the home for charging extra to take his mother-in-law to the opticians.

He felt that at £500 a week the family were already paying enough and lost his temper with a carer, calling her a money grabbing b****'.

But Williams, who pleaded guilty to common assault when he appeared at Swindon Magistrates' Court, says he has no intention of apologising.

His 83-year-old mother-in-law was at the family home for lunch when the Adver spoke to Williams and he says he will only see her outside of Ashbury Lodge.

Prosecuting, Nicky Jennings, told the court: "Mr Williams was interviewed by police in relation to this matter and he stated that he and his wife had gone there and started to argue.

"He stated that he had an issue because they charged too much money.

"He said Mr Smith had lost his temper and said he may have read the situation wrongly when he punched Mr Smith."

Defending Philip Hall said: "He sought to remonstrate with the care home when an extra fine arose about the matter of taking her to the opticians.

"Words were exchanged over the telephone and when they went to visit the matter arose again.

"He is a man who for the first time, and he hopes the last time, resorted to violence when his anger on behalf of someone else, an older, more vulnerable person, ran away from him and he punched someone.

"He hopes he will never trouble the court again."

Williams was given a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £100 in compensation to Mr Smith and £35 in court costs.

After the case Williams said: "The woman at the care home wanted me to apologise to her and I have no intention of apologising to her, not even now.

"On the phone I called her a money grabbing b**** but if she had just said oh he's a miserable old so and so' that would have been the end of it.

"Years ago if you rattled off they would say pack that up' and that would deal with it. Now it's got to the stage where if you rattle off they get security.

"I thought the manager was going to hit me so I hit him first. He barred me from the premises. I can walk along the path outside but not go on their property.

"I'm not going to go over there anyway.

"I still say they should have taken her to the opticians without charging her any extra."