A BAILIFF was attacked when he called at a home to collect overdue council tax.

Mark Rees, 37, of Howard Road, Bothenhampton, near Bridport pleaded guilty to assaulting bailiff Jardine McKenzie.

Magistrates in Weymouth heard that Rees seized Mr McKenzie's neck and attempted to strangle him after returning home to find his wife being treated by paramedics.

Daniel Siong, prosecuting, said that when Mr McKenzie arrived at Rees's home his wife answered the door and became distressed and hysterical when demands were made for payment.

He added: "Mrs Rees phoned her husband at work and left a message. She became hysterical and collapsed to the floor and appeared to be unconscious."

Mr Siong said the bailiff called for an ambulance and the crew arrived on the scene shortly before Rees returned home from work. He added: "He began to accuse the bailiff of acting improperly."

Mr Siong added that Rees pushed McKenzie against his car and attempted to strangle him. The two men were pulled apart by a paramedic.

In mitigation Des Reynolds said that his client was a man of good character and his behaviour was 'just a reaction to the circumstances in which he found himself'.

He said: "My client accepts that he really did lose his temper and took hold of the bailiff, but he did not think any injury had been caused."

Mr Reynolds said Rees had become upset because he was worried about his wife's health. The court heard she had contracted MRSA and had been having health problems for two years.

He added: "His loss of temper was because he was concerned for his wife.

"The family are very concerned about the bailiff and complaints have been made to the county council and to their MP."

Magistrates gave Rees a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £50 compensation and £43 costs.