A man who says he was duped into handing over £20 to a well-known beggar in the Towns, later struck him on the head in revenge for the con.

Mark Raymond, had been convinced he should hand over the money to Sukhvender Singh Deo, known as Billy the Quid, after he told him he would lose his property if he did not find £20 for the rent.

Raymond claimed Mr Deo broke down and cried when he begged for the cash.

Touched by his plight, he handed the money over.

But instead of using the money to keep a roof over his head, Mr Deo had other plans.

Raymond later learned Mr Deo had spent the lot gambling in a nearby William Hill bookies.

He said he lost his temper with him when Mr Deo began goading him about the scam.

Raymond, of Chelmar Road, Chatham, attacked Mr Deo outside McDonald’s in Gillingham in January, after he had gone in for a bite to eat.

As he came out, he spotted Mr Deo and hit him on the head.

Mr Deo fell and then moved away from the area.

When the police arrived, Raymond got aggressive towards officers and was arrested.

He was later charged with assault by beating and pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared before magistrates in Medway.

Debbie Jones, prosecuting, told the court Raymond had admitted to police he had hit Mr Deo because he owed him £20 and that Mr Deo had not supported the prosecution.

Defending himself, Raymond, who is 55, said: “I am guilty of it.

“But this person broke down to me at Christmas. He said he would lose his property.

“I had probably had a couple of ciders and was gullible and lent him the £20.

“But then I learned he had gambled the whole lot at William Hill.

“Then he was goading me and would strip my hat off my head when he saw me.

“Then he shouted out did I want to buy some drugs.

“That was it for me. Drugs are a ‘no no’ and it rubbed salt in the wounds.

“I still have to put up with this person goading me in the street.

“But I have kissed goodbye to the £20.”

Medway magistrates gave Raymond a 12-month conditional discharge.

They also ordered he pay £85 towards court costs.