A former security guard snuck up and sucker-punched a man to the floor after trying to chat up his girlfriend in a Wetherspoon pub.

Danny Williams unleashed the cowardly blow against Philip Hackett in a Dover street after his partner snubbed his advances in The Eight Bells.

Williams, 59, was on a drinking binge when he approached the woman, whom he claimed to recognise, once Mr Hackett visited the loo.

But as Mr Hackett returned, Williams pushed past him and made the threatening remark that he “won’t see tomorrow”.

The couple swiftly decide to leave the Cannon Street pub to visit the nearby Dizzy Donkey in Biggin Street.

But with Williams in pursuit, he crept behind Mr Hackett before delivering the unsuspecting blow to the face, knocking him to the concrete floor last August 21.

Just days later on August 24, Williams was drinking in the Dizzy Donkey when he tried punching bar manager Ben Pillott.

But rather than connecting the blow he missed and fell over.

Williams of Castle Street, Dover, was later charged and admitted common assault and assault by beating when he appeared in the dock at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on April 2.

Neil Sweeney, prosecuting, said: “The first assault was on Mr Hackett who was out with his partner for a drink in The Eight Bells pub.

“He went to the toilet and left her at the table. Mr Williams approaches her and starts talking to her and when Mr Hackett comes back he tells him to leave.

“(Williams) then barged past him, but apologises, but there is some interaction and he (Williams) says ‘you won’t see tomorrow’.

“He follows them to the Dizzy Donkey and he appears behind them and punches Mr Hackett in the right cheek.

“It was caught on CCTV and he was actually identified by the victim in the August 24 incident, as he is the bar manager at the Dizzy Donkey where Williams was drinking on August 24.

“Williams tries to punch him (on that night), but Mr Pillott sees it coming and he moves and Williams misses the punch and falls on the stairs.”

The footage of both incidents was then shown to the bench as well as a picture of Mr Hackett’s injury.

Mr Sweeney added: “Mr Hackett suffered bruising to his face.”

In a victim impact statement, Mr Hackett explained how, if the punch landed slightly higher on his temple, it may have proved fatal.

He also stressed he and his partner were in the area to avoid trouble and the attack had ruined their night out.

Mr Pillott’s victim impact statement stated Williams was known to be violent and had been banned from other establishments.

He also said he should not have to deal with violent incidents and feared Williams would attend his bar again.

The prosecutor added: “He has previous convictions for violence and has a history of it on his record.

“It was a chance meeting with Mr Hackett and I am requesting a restraining order for the manager at the Dizzy Donkey.”

Debbie Pizzey, defending, said her client had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

She added: “The first incident, he’d been to the toilet and came out and saw a female he recognised from when he worked in security previously.

“He was told to leave now (by Mr Hackett) and he felt that was a challenge he’d made and felt he’d done something wrong.

“And the Dizzy Donkey, there is only 90 metres between the two public houses and he says they were facing each other (at the time of time of punch).

But he does accept he caused the injury and he was intoxicated at the time.

“He has no recollection of the other incident at the Dizzy Donkey (on August 24).

“He’s used alcohol on and off since his early 20s, and he commits offences then there are gaps (in his offending), but tends to drink when things get difficult.

“He’s done various jobs and was a security officer at (Dover) port and had a daughter in 2021.

“He’s now separated (from his daughter’s mother) and gets emotional as he’s unable to see his daughter.

“He also has another four sons and has difficult relations with them because of his behaviour.

“But he sees his mum and he was recently assaulted and walks with a limp as he has a knee injury.

“He has had an MRI and is awaiting surgery on the knee.”

The court also heard how, despite previously being on community orders with unpaid work requirements, Williams had never really had any intervention from probation to help him quit drinking.

Ms Pizzey, added: “He’s now been barred from most establishments since these incidents and it’s been seven months now and he’s not returned.”

Magistrates placed him on a 12 month community order so probation could help him address his alcohol issues.

The order will see him complete 10 rehabilitation sessions and other sessions to address mental health decision making.

He was also ordered to pay £70 compensation to Mr Hallett and £50 to Mr Pillott, alongside a victim surcharge of £114 and £85 court costs.

Magistrates also did not make a restraining order for Williams to stay away from Mr Pillott as they deemed it unnecessary.

The chairman of the bench told Williams: “Work with probation.”