A WOMAN who threatened to kick a man in the groin was punched so hard she fell back five feet a court heard.Michelle Adams and Sean Reid fought outside the Great White Horse Hotel in Northgate Street, Ipswich over their friend Kelly Beale.

A WOMAN who threatened to kick a man in the groin was punched so hard she fell back five feet a court heard.

Michelle Adams and Sean Reid fought outside the Great White Horse Hotel in Northgate Street, Ipswich over their friend Kelly Beale.

Miss Adams, who has a record for violence, punched Reid and then went to kick him South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court heard.

John Hughes, mitigating, said it was then that his client “let rip”. He said police witnessed Reid, 20, punch Miss Adams and saw her “fall back five feet.”

Reid, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to common assault on January 12 and admitted that he had used excessive force in self-defence.

Gareth Davies, prosecuting, said Miss Adams and Miss Beale were drunk when Miss Beale bumped into Reid and started chatting.

He said: “Miss Adams wanted to go home and she called to her friend to leave. There was an argument between the three of them.

“He (Reid) says they are both gay so one was jealous of him talking to the other and he was angry because the girls were interested in each other rather than him.”

The court heard that Reid had 50 previous convictions for 85 offences.

Mr Hughes said: “He was punched a number of times by Miss Adams. He asked her why and then thought she was going to kick him in the groin so he let rip.”

District Judge David Cooper jailed Reid for six weeks but told him he would not have to pay court costs or compensation.