Victim Tony Searson told police he was in a row with William Lee outside a chip shop on Recreation Road and they began pushing and shoving each other.

Prosecutor Helen Griffiths said Luke Kelly then appeared and asked Mr Searson: "Why have you pushed him over?"

She told Chesterfield magistrates that Kelly (27) then head-butted Mr Searston, making contact with the complainant's chin as he tried to push him at the same time.

Mr Searson landed on his back and Kelly got in a car and drove away.
Kelly was arrested and told police he stepped in to protect Mr Lee, whom he considered to be disabled because he suffered ongoing problems following a stroke.

Kelly, of Burlington Avenue, admitted assault on 30th September last year and breaching bail by not attending court on 20th February.

District Judge Liz Hart imposed an 8pm-6am curfew for the next three months and ordered him to pay £75 compensation to his victim, plus £60 costs.

In mitigation, Bob Bashforth said: "Mr Lee had just had a stroke and Mr Kelly thought he was about to be attacked and intervened with the best motives.

"But he went too far. He pushed the complainant back with both hands and there was a clash of heads. It was not the classic headbutt."