A FORMER Tory councillor has been warned he faces prison after pleading guilty to assaulting a man on Weymouth Esplanade.

Ian Strong, 39, of Overcombe Drive, Weymouth, appeared at Dorchester Crown Court with two other defendants, Paul David Jones, 33, of Chiswell, Portland, and Bruce Dixon, 40, of Park Street, Weymouth.

All three men admitted assaulting Darren Mark Dougherty following a night out in August this year.

Jones and Dixon also admitted false imprisonment, a charge denied by Strong.

Prosecuting, Mark Ashley said the Crown Prosecution Service was minded to accept Strong's not guilty plea on the false imprisonment charge, but asked that no formal finding be entered on the court record until sentencing takes place.

For Strong, David Campbell said: "My client is a man of previous good character and with this in mind I would respectfully suggest that your honour orders a full pre-sentence report."

Hamish Dunlop, representing Jones, and Michael McGoldrick, representing Dixon, made similar requests on behalf of their clients.

Judge John Beashel ordered the reports to be prepared before sentencing, which is expected to take place at Dorchester Crown Court next month.

All three men were granted bail, conditional on their living and sleeping at their home addresses and having no contact with Mr Dougherty.

Judge Beashel warned the defendants that they could expect a jail term for their crime.

He said: "You will be sentenced in about three weeks' time. As part of your bail conditions you must co-operate fully in the preparation of your pre-sentence report.

"You should be aware that by granting you bail on this occasion it doesn't follow that you will be dealt with by a non-custodial sentence. There is a serious prospect of custody."

Strong was elected to Weymouth and Portland Borough Council as the ward councillor for Wey Valley for the first time in June this year.

He resigned from the council in September and a by-election was held last week in the ward.