A THUG launched a vicious attack on a man despite a desperate plea for him to stop.

Jack Stanbury’s victim was walking to a restaurant to meet his family in Leigh when he was approached by the thug and three others, who appeared to be drunk.

After an exchange, Stanbury launched a sustained assault.

In a victim impact statement, read out by prosecutor Lesley Chipps, he said: “They all looked intoxicated and were acting aggressively, so I wanted to try and pass them by without them noticing me.

“He was making very vulgar remarks and rubbing his chest and nipples saying ‘do you want some?’

“I told him to stop being a t*** and to leave me alone.

“He then became more aggressive and stopped me passing him.

“He headbutted me to the face. I was not expecting to be assaulted.

“I walked away from him and kept saying leave me alone, but he headbutted me again, then he punched me.

“I was shouting louder for help. He kept throwing punches when I asked him to stop.”

Stanbury’s victim was eventually helped by a bouncer from nearby venue Baboush with other drivers pulling over to stop him.

He had to go to A&E, where he was treated for bruising to his eye and swelling to his nose.

He added: “This has caused me great fear of going outside and of groups roaming about the streets. I constantly fear crime being on the rise and that there is an attacker out to get me.”

The court also heard when Stanbury made his way back to his friends they were annoyed with him, and he had shouted: “He started it.”

Simon Samuels, mitigating, told the court Stanbury was actively trying to change his life and had been taking part in various courses including thinking skills.

The 23-year-old admitted assault causing ABH, in the Ridgeway, on August 18 last year.

Magistrates referred the case to Basildon Crown Court for sentencing.

Stanbury, who used to live in the area but has since moved to Wales, will be sentenced on October 30.