Fifty-six-year-old Anthony Perrin's punch allegedly lifted Susan York off her feet, causing her to fall onto an office fridge and suffer two wounds to the back of her head.

Chesterfield magistrates were told on Wednesday that the incident took place during a private works function on 20th April.

Ms York was told by a club trustee after midnight that Perrin was barred. She asked him to leave and he refused, saying he wanted to speak to Alan Gascoyne –– who was chairman at that time.

"The defendant was shouting and swearing and appeared to be drunk. He followed her into the office and, feeling threatened, she left and stood behind the bar," said Helen Griffiths, prosecuting.

"He stood beside her and, without warning, he lunged forward towards her with his fists raised and punched out."

Mrs Griffiths said Ms York pushed his fist away and struck him in the face. Perrin protested, saying she had knocked out one of his false teeth and police arrived and told him to leave.

Staff were leaving the club at 1am when Perrin returned and again entered the office, shouting abuse and demanding to see Mr Gascoyne. He then floored Ms York with a punch below her chin.

Witnesses told police that Perrin continued hitting her after she had temporarily passed out on the floor. He was pulled off her and he left –– and Ms York received treatment at King's Mill Hospital.

Chris Perry, in mitigation, said Perrin had been a dedicated and active club trustee for many years but 'that came to a bitter end' recently when he felt he was being treated unfairly because of personal circumstances.

He said Perrin had been invited to the private function and Ms York was also there, but only socialising. He challenged her authority when she asked him to leave and said he wanted to see Mr Gascoyne.

Said Mr Perry: "He was told Mr Gascoyne was in the office. He went in there and was immediately struck very hard in the face, knocking out a tooth. It wasn't a false tooth, it was a molar."

Perrin left but realised he had left his watch in the club.

He went back and retrieved it and a row with Ms York blew up –– he then lunged at her, causing her to fall and bang her head.

Perrin, of Woodland Farm, Wood Lane, Shirebrook, admitted assault but presiding magistrate Tim Norton said his version of the offence differed significantly from his victim's account.

Mr Norton adjourned sentence for a mini-trial to decide what exactly happened during the incident, saying that the sentence ultimately imposed would depend on the outcome of the next hearing on 24th November.

Perrin, who runs a fencing business, was granted unconditional bail.