JURORS heard how a Portland man repeatedly hit a 16-year-old boy in a row over bullying.

Alexander William Graham, aged 56, of Longstone Close, is standing trial at Dorchester Crown Court where he denies assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Michael Green, who is now aged 17.

Prosecutor Simon Foster told the court that on December 1, 2009, Mr Green was with a group of four friends in Harding House in Woolcombe Road when the defendant and his wife, Tanya, entered the block of flats.

Mr Foster said the couple began making enquiries about an incident that occurred earlier that evening between their 12-year-old daughter and Stephanie Smith who was within the group of friends. Mr Foster said Graham asked Mr Green: ‘Why didn’t you help when my daughter was being bullied?’ before producing a weapon – which has been described by some eyewitnesses as a wooden truncheon and others as a metal pole – and hit Mr Green with the weapon before a ‘full-scale fight’ took place.

Kieran Gauci said from the witness stand: “He had a metal pole.

“He hit Michael with it repeatedly over the head six of seven times.” Eyewitness Cheryl Cox, who lives in the block of flats described the weapon as a wooden truncheon. She added: “With the first blow there was blood on the landing.”

Francisca Da Costa, defending Graham, said the defendant was acting in self-defence.

The trial continues.