A man has appeared at the Old Bailey after he knocked someone out in a pool table assault. 

David McCarthy, 34, was drinking in The Flying Machine in Biggin Hill on June 18, 2021 when he committed the assault. 

The victim, who was vaguely known to McCarthy, was playing pool peacefully with a group of friends when McCarthy butted into their conversation and told the victim to “shut up”. 

This led to a verbal confrontation during which McCarthy leapt forward and punched the victim three times, knocking him to the floor. 

The victim briefly lost consciousness and suffered serious facial injuries which required surgery, Prosecutor Jonathan Gold said. 

McCarthy, a qualified stonemason from Bexhill in East Sussex, said he was deeply ashamed of himself and doesn’t understand why his temper got the better of him. 

He was later arrested and pleaded guilty to unlawful and malicious wounding. 

Judge Richard Thomas gave McCarthy a community order, including 120 hours of unpaid work. 

He also ordered McCarthy, who claims to earn £2,000 a week, to pay £3,000 in compensation to the victim.