Illegal immigrant punched and bit charity worker

Tamar Akhtar was also preparing to help Majnoon Shah find new accommodation when violence flared, Wolverhampton Crown Court.

The 44-year-old, who entered the country around 10 years ago and had five days left before being ordered out of the hostel in Hagley Road, Bearwood, became increasingly angry and agitated as the pair conversed via an interpretor at the other end of the charity worker's phone, it was said.

The defendant suddenly punched Mr Akhtar in the face and jumped on top of him as the injured man slumped into a chair with blood streaming from his nose, said Mr Richard Davenport, prosecuting.

The victim was also bitten on the body by Shah who then grabbed him round the throat before the attack finished as quickly as it had started and police were called.

Bruised and battered Mr Akhtar later told the officers: 'I genuinely feared for my life when he had me by the throat.'

Shah, now living in another hostel in Lichfield Road, Aston, is awaiting the result of an application to remain indefinitely in this country after an earlier request was rejected, added the prosecutor.

He was addicted to heroin at the time of the incident on May 18 2016 but was now trying to kick the habit, the court was told.

The defendant was convicted of assaulting Mr Akhtar after a magistrates court trial and had been committed to the Crown Court for sentence.

Shah, who was of previous good character, was given a 16-month jail term suspended for two years with 80 hours unpaid work.

Judge Dean Kershaw told him: "This was a disgraceful incident."