THE businessman who sparked national outrage when he was ordered by a judge to pay a drug dealer he beat up £250 compensation is to serve his 100 hours community service working at an owl sanctuary in the New Forest.

Self-employed builder, Roger Dorrington, 48, from Blissford, near Foringbridge, in the New Forest was ordered by Judge David Griffiths to pay James White the money after he punched him 15 times in the face.

Mr Dorrington lost his temper with White, 24, whom he had barred from seeing his sons. On Tuesday, the Daily Echo revealed how Judge Griffiths made the order for compensation.

But in a dramatic change of heart yesterday, Judge Griffiths scrapped the compensation order following a public backlash.

The Judge told the father-of-two how he had already been having doubts about the appropriateness of ordering him to pay compensation to White when he made the original order.

Mr Dorrington said he had been besieged with messages of support from the public since the case was revealed in the Daily Echo on Tuesday.

He said he was still not satisfied that he had to serve the community service but said the judge's comments when he revoked the compensation order had been "fair."

He said: "With everything that went on, it is the best result I could have come up with."

Mr White said his answerphone had been filled with messages of support from the public.

His letterbox has also jammed full of mail from people backing his actions. Barristers and solicitors had also offered to help in his appeal.

He promised he would try and reply to all the letters personally.

He said: "I have not had anyone speak out against me.

"I have been stopped at traffic lights by people wanting to shake my hand.

"The public response has been unbelievable."