A MILKMAN who headbutted a troublesome customer and smashed an empty bottle over his head was spared jail yesterday (Thursday).

Paul Hensman attacked 57-year-old Peter Allan-Dunbar after a long-running dispute over the weekly bill for deliveries.

The 55-year-old claimed the victim owed him �90 but Mr Allan-Dunbar claimed he had been overcharged up to �5,000 - the cost of 10,000 pints.

The pair had repeatedly clashed in the street during the milk round in Finchley, north London, and the police had been called at least twice.

Hensman, of Dawley, WGC, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to causing actual bodily harm. He had claimed he did not realise the bottle was in his hand when he lashed out.

Judge Anthony Morris QC sentenced Hensman to 30 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and ordered him to carry out 40 hours unpaid work.

Hensman was ordered to pay �600 towards prosecution costs and �600 towards defence costs.

More details of the case will be in Wednesday’s Welwyn Hatfield Times.