A man has avoided jail after attacking a dog owner at a rail station after becoming enraged with the pet.

Lewis Perry, 22, set upon Malcom Chandler at Sandwich Railway Station and pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm earlier this year.

Canterbury Crown Court heard Perry was with friends on the opposite platform to Mr Chandler, who was alone, when he took umbrage with the animal.

He shouted “that’s a big dog”, walked over the footbridge and delivered the blow to Mr Chandler’s right eye socket, knocking him unconscious.

Moments before, Mr Chandler asked the group if they knew what time the trains leave, prosecutor Bridget Todd said.

Canterbury Crown Court heard it was unclear why the canine, some ten meters away, sent Perry into a rage.

Mr Chandler suffered a small fracture to his right eye-socket following the attack in May last year.

Perry, who has 13 convictions for 24 offences, went ‘no comment’ in police interview but pleaded guilty before trial.

Kieran Brand, mitigating, said his client came from a broken home and the death of his father and sibling sent him down the wrong track.

Mr Brand added Perry had achieved some 18 months without offending before becoming upset with the animal and lashing out.

Perry since moved to Bristol for work as a bar manager to help clean up his act and now “recognises he needs help,” Mr Brand added.

Judge Mark Weekes scalded Perry for the “gratuitous violence in public”, explaining his victim’s injuries could have been much more severe had he hit his head on the tarmac.

But the judge explained even though he was prepared to lock Perry up he saw a genuine chance for rehabilitation following probation reports.

He added Perry’s recent lack of violent offending coupled with his apparent keenness for rehabilitation spared him jail.

Judge Weekes handed Perry, formerly of Guilford Road, Sandwich Bay, to 10 months prison suspended for two years.

He must also complete 30 probation rehabilitation days, 200 hours community service and pay £300 compensation and £100 costs.

Read more: All the latest news from Sandwich