A MURDERER who kicked a Royal Navy veteran to death said he “wouldn’t tolerate bullies” – as he appeared in court for knocking down a prison officer.

Lewis Hoare was 19 years old when he was given a life sentence in 2007 for punching and kicking Brian Kitching, 68, in Southsea, Hampshire, two years earlier.

He and three others falsely accused the retired navy rating of being a paedophile. Mr Kitching who died from his injuries six months after the attack.

Hoare admitted his guilt and gave important evidence against his co-accused, earning himself an eight-year minimum term.

However, since then Hoare has been in trouble for absconding from prison and attacking officers.

On Thursday, he was before Swindon Magistrates’ Court via video link from HMP Guys Marsh, where Hoare, now 33, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker.

Prosecutor Keith Ballinger said Hoare’s victim had been walking to an office on the Silbury wing at HMP Erlestoke, Wiltshire, on October 14, 2019, when he was approached by the man.

The officer was punched in the face by Hoare, who followed up the blow with an uppercut punch. The victim was left with a painful swollen lip.

Interviewed about the assault, the prisoner claimed his friend at the jail had taken his own life after bullying from prison officers and other inmates had been bullied by the officer.

He said he had been bullied in his life and “wouldn’t tolerate it now” so decided to act.

Mr Ballinger said Hoare was last in trouble for assaulting a prison guard in November 2019.

Mitigating, Liz Highams asked the magistrates to impose a short custodial sentence, as her client was a serving prisoner.

Sentencing Hoare to eight weeks’ imprisonment, chairman of the bench Maryanne Burton said: “You’ve pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity for this offence and we are going to deal with it this afternoon.

“We are going to deal with it having taken into consideration your early guilty plea and the fact you are a serving prisoner.”

The eight-week sentence will be served concurrently – or, at the same time – as his current prison term.