A 40-year-old man who was blacklisted by a car rental firm headbutted the deputy manager in a "disgraceful" attack, Norwich Crown Court heard yesterday.

A 40-year-old man who was blacklisted by a car rental firm headbutted the deputy manager in a "disgraceful" attack, Norwich Crown Court heard yesterday.

Salvatore Cappucio had been refused car hire as he had returned vehicles damaged or had not refilled the fuel tank, the court was told.

The court heard he was annoyed and went to the Enterprise rent-a-car on Boundary Road, Norwich, on February 22 and deputy manager Daniel Adcock tried to deal with him.

Jonathan Morgans, prosecuting, said Mr Adcock's head was within three inches of Cappucio, who was holding him by the shoulders. Cappucio head-butted him, splitting his lip, causing a 1.5cm wound which had to be stitched.

Cappucio, of St Michael's Close, Hockering, near Dereham, admitted assaulting Mr Adcock causing

him actual bodily harm and was

given a six-month prison sentence

suspended for a year with a supervision order for 12 months.

The court heard Mr Adcock had a permanent migraine-type headache for two to three days.

Recorder Richard Twomlow told Cappucio: "This was a disgraceful incident. I take into account you were very stressed at the time caring for your family."

Mark Fraser, mitigating, said it was a terrible incident and Cappucio was thoroughly ashamed. "It was comp-letely out of character," he said.