A DISPUTE over a stolen chip prompted a reveller to punch another man – leaving him unconscious and with a broken jaw.

The assault took place in a taxi queue in May Place, Basingstoke, on the evening of April 27 this year, Winchester Crown Court heard.

Craig Plenderlieth and a friend joined the queue, having been out for a night drinking in Basingstoke, and a witness described Plenderlieth as “anxious and angry”.

Barnaby Shaw, prosecuting, said Plenderlieth’s friend stole a chip from Steve Pollard, who was also in the taxi queue.

He said: “Mr Pollard pushed the chips into the face of Plenderlieth’s friend. Plenderlieth decided he would punch Mr Pollard as a result, which he did, punching him to the face which caused him to fall.”

Plenderlieth, 23, fled from the scene but was later identified and arrested.

Mr Shaw said Plenderlieth had become angry that night after visiting Plush bar, in Wote Street, as people had bumped into him and spilled drinks.

He added that when officers searched his home in Sark Way, Popley, Basingstoke, they found a tent containing 10 cannabis plants in an upstairs bedroom.

Plenderlieth appeared in the dock for sentence having admitted assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and production of cannabis.

Charles Durrant, defending, said Plenderlieth had shown remorse and had called the taxi firm in May Place to check on Mr Pollard’s condition.

He added: “This was an ill-judged, ill-timed moment of madness from an individual who is ordinarily not like that.”

Judge Jonathan Fuller said Plenderlieth’s actions were “wholly unjustifiable”.

He sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 150 hours unpaid work, a curfew order, and he was told to pay £1,000 compensation to Mr Pollard.