Cowell 'lookalike' is sentenced

Anthony Calvert (L) said he did not watch Simon Cowell on X Factor

A lorry driver who attacked a student who told him he resembled X Factor judge Simon Cowell has been ordered to pay him £100 compensation.

Anthony Calvert, 45, flew into a rage when holidaymaker Adam Davies, 19, told him: "You look just like Simon Cowell".

Calvert, of Trefechan, Aberystwyth, hit Mr Davies, of Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, five times in the face, and admitted causing actual bodily harm.

Aberystwyth magistrates also gave him a suspended three-month prison sentence.

Prosecutor Craig Jones said: "Mr Davies remarked that he looked like Simon Cowell. Calvert asked him if he was serious and Mr Davies said: 'Yes, I am.'

"Without further comment, Calvert then punched to him to the face several times."

I was just shocked and didn't see it coming at all Student Adam Davies

Calvert then left the Fountain Inn pub in Aberystwyth, but returned later and again hit Mr Davies.

Mr Davies suffered a swollen lip, bruised cheek and nose and a swollen forehead.

The student told magistrates: "I made a jest about him looking like Simon Cowell. I don't know why - it was just a bit of a joke.

"Then he punched me five times.

Being mocked

"I was just shocked and didn't see it coming at all".

Calvert, a logistics company worker, who said he had drunk between five and seven pints at the pub in April, told magistrates at the earlier hearing: "He asked me if that was a Simon Cowell haircut that I had. He was being weird."

They exchanged words, and Calvert said he "felt threatened and assaulted him".

Calvert also told the court that he did not watch The X Factor and was not offended by being compared to Simon Cowell, but told the court: "I just felt threatened and I punched him because he was having a go at me."

Calvert's prison sentence was suspended for a year. He was also banned from going into any licensed premises for 28 days.