A POLISH man who lashed out at a teenager after being teased for the way he spoke has been fined by a judge.

Bartosz Moczek was said to have used a scaffolding pole to attack the boy, who was knocked out in the incident on April 21.

The 25-year-old had lost his temper as a group of boys mocked his accent.

Claire Marlow, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court the boy was at home when he looked outside to see a man taking photographs of his house.

"He went out and inquired what he was doing and Mr Moczek said he was taking photographs as a window had been smashed," she said.

The lad, who is thought to have been about 15 years old, said one of his friends might have smashed the pane, Miss Marlow said.

"Mr Moczek went away but returned with what is described as a scaffolding pole. The boy went to shut the door but it was kicked by Mr Moczek, breaking the lock.

"He then hit the lad on the top of the head with the scaffolding pole. The boy said he was then hit again on the shoulder."

The victim's sister, who is 17, returned home and saw one blow landing on her brother who went to the ground and briefly lost consciousness.

He suffered a small cut to the head, which hospital staff wanted to glue, but the teenager declined the treatment.

The court was told that the police were not contacted until a few days later and the defendant admitted assaulting the boy.

Moczek, of Omdurman Street, Rodbourne, pleaded guilty to a charge of actual bodily harm.

Paul Grumbar, defending, said: "The defendant's version of events is different to that outlined by the prosecution. It is not clear why this incident arose at all.

"In the defendant's view a wall had collapsed when he walked past. He lived nearby. He saw some bricks on a car bonnet and smiled.

"A group of youths asked him what he was smiling at and when he replied in broken Polish they taunted him about his Polishness.

"He said he picked up a stick, which was made of wood, and hit the boy once."

He said his client had been a man of good character and was very sorry for the way he had lost his temper.

Although Moczek is a trained carpenter, Mr Grumbar said he worked at Honda and sent money home to his family in Poland as he had a sick sister.

Passing sentence Judge Douglas Field said: "I am going to accept your version of what happened: Namely that you were taunted about your Polish nationality and you lost your temper and over-reacted.

"I take into account that you have pleaded guilty and owned up to this as soon as you saw the police."

He imposed a fine of £400 with £100 costs to be paid within six months, but decided not to order Moczek to pay compensation.