A judge has decided he does not need to hear from witnesses after seeing CCTV footage of a man assaulting the landlord of a pub.

Simon Smith, 28, had been due to face a trial of issue at Swindon Crown Court after flooring Antony Dobbin at The Pig and Whistle in Melksham.

But after watching footage of the attack at Swindon Crown Court on Monday, Judge Tim Mousley QC said he didn't need to hear any evidence.

Smith was being thrown out of the pub after the friend he was with had got into a fight with a friend of Mr Dobbin, who was having a night off in his own bar.

As he was being followed out of the hostelry he turned and landed a single punch on the victim, sending him straight to the ground 'like a sack of spuds'.

He claimed the landlord had his hand raised as he walked after him and he feared he may be struck, so lashed out, during the incident on Sunday, March 31, last year.

Smith, of Russell Court, Warminster, pleaded guilty to a charge of causing grievous bodily harm.

The judge adjourned the case to Friday, August 15, so a pre-sentence report can be prepared and released him on bail on condition he stays away from the pub.

At an earlier hearing Colin Meeke, prosecuting, said of the assault: "He turns, throws a great punch at the landlord who goes down like a sack of spuds."