A MAN who punched a man in Chester and verbally abused a woman in a car has been ordered to pay compensation.

Stephen Paul Leasor, 34, of Guildford Close, Chester, pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates Court on Friday, July 23, to the charges of assault by beating and using abusive words to cause alarm or distress.

Prosecuting, Luke Unsworth said it was at 3.30pm on June 27 when police were called to attend Montrose Court, Saltney, amid reports of two men including the defendant banging on the door of an address.

They were seen to be intoxicated and officers described them as slurring words and their eyes glazed.

They were told to remove the area.

But Leasor returned later and had been shouting and swearing at a woman he did not know, who was in her car.

He had tried to get in, but the car door was locked.

Leasor had also pushed and punched a man on the street, who he also did not know, and knocked off his glasses.

The woman said the incident left her feeling "frightened and vulnerable".

Leasor had 38 previous convictions for 55 offences, his most recent for being drunk and disorderly in February.

Defending, Steve Coupe said Leasor could not recall the incident, but was embarrassed by his behaviour.

Leasor had been homeless for six years until finding accommodation through Forfutures in December 2020, but had had "his ups and downs" with substance abuse.

He had been engaging with services, with a "very, very positive" probation report presented to the court.

The probation report added Leasor was currently on a two-year community order and was addressing his issues.

It was recommended Leasor receive a curfew so he would not be with known associates during the evenings.

Magistrates commended the progress Leasor had made with probation, but said the victims involved in the incident needed to be compensated.

Leasor was handed a four-week, 7pm-7am curfew at his home address, and must pay £100 compensation each to the two victims.