A Suffolk man who hit a man with a baseball bat during a row about parking has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Joseph Hart picked up the bat and struck the man on the hip after he complained about Hart blocking his car in a car park.

Michael Crimp, prosecuting, said the victim had been concerned he might lose his job if he didn't get to work and when he discovered that Hart was the owner of the car he had shouted: 'You'd better come and move your car.'

'He was annoyed and he said it in an aggressive manner,' said Mr Crimp.

Hart, who was looking out of a window in his flat, refused to move his car and the man had told him: 'When you come out here I'm going to iron you out,' said Mr Crimp.

Hart had then come out of his flat in Stanley Street, Lowestoft, holding a black baseball bat and had pointed it at the victim's face.

He told Hart he was an idiot and Hart had then taken hold of the bat with both hands and swung it at him, hitting him on the hip.

As a result of the blow, the victim said he had been in pain and had been unable to bear weight on his knee.

Hart, 57, admitted having a baseball bat as an offensive weapon and assault by beating in August last year.

He was given a 12 week prison sentence suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay £100 costs and a £115 victim surcharge.

Sentencing him, judge David Goodin told Hart: 'I hope you feel a complete fool today.

'You swung a baseball bat and assaulted someone who didn't like the way you'd parked your car.'

Steven Dyble, mitigating, said the victim had been verbally aggressive and had threatened to 'iron him out' if he came out to move the car.

'Matters boiled over in a regrettable way,' said Mr Dyble.

He said minimal injury was caused and there was no evidence he had gone to hospital.

Mr Dyble said his client had a number of health problems.