A diabetic former firefighter who attacked a stranger with a tire iron outside a supermarket in a row over Covid social distancing rules has avoided jail.

Daniel Moody, of Birchington, lay in wait for Douglas Knight to emerge from the Broadstairs store.

The 65-year-old then punched Mr Knight before raining the weapon into his face.

Both men had been rowing on the escalator moments before the attack, where Mr Knight reportedly used offensive language.

Moody admitted occasioning actual bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon before trial at Canterbury Crown Court in January.

This week, prosecutors told the same court Mr Knight was left with a facial cut which required surgical glue.

He also believed he was going to have a heart attack following the attack, due to having a triple bypass, prosecutor Anthony Bartholomeusz said.

“Mr Moody and the complainant had an altercation about Covid social distancing rules at the top of an escalator,” Mr Bartholomeusz continued.

"He was extremely cautious about contact with other people..."

“Mr Moody approached Mr Knight outside with a tire iron and punched him and hit him in the face with the tire iron.

“Mr Knight returned to Tesco to receive medical attention and his wounds were cleaned and glued by a paramedic.”

Moody, a fire officer of 25 years, had also served in the royal artillery for ten years, including two tours of Northern Ireland during The Troubles, his lawyer said.

And after being considered medically vulnerable following a diabetes diagnosis against the backdrop of Covid lockdowns, he became depressed, Paul Hogben, mitigating, explained.

Moody had avoided shops and only entered the Westwood Cross superstore to help his wife find an item, the court heard.

“Mr Moody’s life was thrown into disarray, he suffers from diabetes and is vulnerable and when Covid came down on us he was in a state of some concern for himself," Mr Hogben said.

“He stopped going out, he stopped going into shops, he was extremely cautious about contact with other people.

“At the top of an escalator he asked Mr Knight to allow him social distancing, so Mr Moody could leave the shop.”

He stated Mr Knight then swore at Moody, of Minnis Road, who “saw the red mist”.

The judge, Recorder Matthew McDonagh, suspended a 12-month prison sentence for a year.

Moody, of previous good character, will have to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.