A petrol station worker was assaulted by a customer who claimed he had been short-changed, a court heard.

Daniel Street, 40, of Barge Court, admitted attacking William Ogunderu at the Esso garage in Greenhithe but refused to apologise, saying his victim did not deserve to have a job.

The incident took place at the London Road garage just before 6am on December 29, with passing police officers on hand to restrain Street as he struck his victim in the head and neck.

The self-employed painter and decorator accepted that what he did was wrong but refused to apologise for the attack.

He told police: “I went home and I was so angry. I couldn’t sleep, I was fuming.

“I just wanted to smash his head in. He is a thief and he deserved it.”

Street also said of Mr Ogunderu: “He wasn’t a native, it’s disgusting that he has a job.”

Mr Ogunderu did not think the attack was racially motivated but admitted to being left “shocked” by the experience.

The court’s probation officer said that Street admitted he sometimes lost his temper when he felt cheated, but that he had not been in trouble with the law since 2006 and was not a risk to the public.

Street pleaded guilty to common assault and magistrates handed him a 12-month community order with 30 days of rehabilitation to tackle problems with his temper.

He will also observe a month-long curfew from 7.30pm to 7.30am and pay £145 in costs, but was not asked to pay any compensation to his victim.