A “drunken, violent bully” who smashed a glass over the head of a man with Asperger’s Syndrome after trying to “wind him up” about his disorder, has been jailed for 20 months.

Thomas Willsher became confrontational towards Terry Ebbens in the Kings Arms in Bury St Edmunds after being told he had Asperger’s and made a number of comments to see if Mr Ebbens would react, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

In a statement to police Mr Ebbens said: “He was trying to wind me up. I was trying not to get angry and tried to joke as I don’t like confrontations, but he said I didn’t have Asperger’s as I was becoming angry.”

He said Willsher had then said: “How does this feel?” before walking towards him with a glass tumbler and hitting him over the head with it.

The pub’s assistant manager witnessed the incident and described Willsher hitting Mr Ebbens over the head with a glass and then picking up Mr Ebbens’ glass and hitting him over the head with it as well, causing the glass to smash.

The witness described Mr Ebbens, who suffered a 2cm cut to his head, which needed three stitches, as cowering against the wall during the attack.

Willsher, 30, of Ashwell Road, Bury St Edmunds admitted unlawfully wounding Mr Ebbens on May 18.

Jailing him for 20 months Judge Rupert Overbury described his behaviour as that of a “violent, drunken, bully” on the night in question.