A MAN who lives next to a student house ended up in court when he protested about loud music being played by his neighbours.

Owen Ronald Robson, 57, wanted the volume turning down. But his request led to a confrontation between him and one of the students living in the house which ended with him hitting her in the face, York Magistrates' Court heard.

Sam Law, prosecuting, said the woman told police later she had a permanent bump on her nose about which she feels self-conscious. Robson hit her twice in the face, once on the side and once on her nose.

At a separate hearing, York magistrates decided that Robson’s first blow was in self-defence, but the second was not.

District judge Adrian Lower said: “No doubt you went round to tell them to turn the music down. No doubt you were frustrated when you were met with a less than co-operative attitude.

“Whatever the rights and wrongs at the beginning of the incident, you went far too far in throwing a blow at her when she was throwing abuse at you.

You would have done far better to walk away. This was antisocial behaviour on your part.” Robson, of Dudley Street, The Groves, pleaded guilty to assaulting the student on August 8, and was given a community order with 140 hours’ unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay the student £200 compensation and £85 prosecution costs.

For Robson, Richard Minion said the first blow had been after the woman student swung a blow at Robson.

She swore at him and he accepted that he had gone too far in making the second punch.

Robson worked for an agency, but his current job was due to end the day after the court hearing.

He has two adult children.