A Huntingdon man who punched two men after they challenged him about his behaviour in a playground has been given a community order.

Damian Stepien, of Kent Road, was approached by Ryan Crowder and Antony Dean after he was said to be upsetting youngsters using the park on April 7.

Stepien, 19, pleaded guilty at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on May 9 to a charge of assault by beating of Mr Dean and another of causing actual bodily harm to Mr Crowder.

He also admitted to possessing a small amount of cannabis.

Sally Rose, prosecuting, said: “A friend of the victim, Mr Dean, had had a complaint made by his son that the defendant was in the children’s playground and was upsetting them.

“Mr Dean, having heard this, went to the address of his friend, Mr Crowder, and went to the children’s playground to speak to the defendant and explained he was upsetting the children and asked him to leave.

“The defendant behaved aggressively to their request. He punched Mr Crowder in the face and knocked him backwards, as a result of that he sustained a cut to his upper lip.”

The court heard that the injury Mr Crowder suffered would now require an operation to correct. Stepien continued throwing punches at Mr Dean, missing on occasions and connecting once.

“Mr Dean knocked him to the ground, restrained him, and asked someone to call the police.” Mrs Rose added.

Maryam Bassily, defending, said that Stepien had initially thought one of the children in the playground was his sister so had gone over to say hello before realising it was not her.

“He started the fight because he was afraid for his own safety, which was the reason why he punched both of the victims,” Mrs Bassily added.

“He fully accepts they had concerns for the welfare of their children but at the time his judgement was clouded.”

Stepien was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, along with an order to pay compensation to both victims.

He will pay £200 to Mr Crowder and a further £100 to Mr Dean, along with £85 court costs and a victim surcharge.