A MAN started punching a friend on a bus between Hereford and Ross-on-Wye after a disagreement over money he was owed.

Brandon Henry William Braithwaite, 20, pleaded guilty at Hereford Magistrates Court to three counts of common assault as he went on to harm two more people.

Braitwaite, of Woodedge, Ross-on-Wye, was on a bus when he saw Ryan Stephens and a quarrel started between the two men started, said Shafquat Reaz, prosecuting.

Mr Stephens was on the bus at Harewood End with Louise Stanley on the evening of July 22, when both were assaulted by Braithwaite.

"He began to punch Ryan Stephens around the face and his nose began to bleed," he said.

"Louise Stanley then intervened but he continued to attack Mr Stephens. Following on from this, the defendant got off the bus and made certain threats."

In a separate incident more than two months later, on September 17, Braithwaite assaulted social services officer Richard Gardner at a meeting about housing issues at the time, Mr Reaz said.

"The defendant started to square up against the officer and making threats," he said.

"He pushed the complainant using two hands and then struck the centre of his chest again."

Marilena Di Vitantonio, for Braithwaite, said he accepted the assaults in an interview with the police, but doubted the injuries sustained by Miss Stanley.

She said the row had started because he had lent a friend £200 and this had not been paid back.

"He was extremely frustrated at the time as he was homeless. He accepts he should have acted more appropriately (during both incidents)," Miss Di Vitantonio said.

Magistrates handed him a 12-month community order with 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He was also ordered to pay £30 compensation to Mr Stephens and Mr Gardner, a £25 fine and £90 victim surcharge.