A Bristol thug who launched an attack on a driver after crashing his motorbike into a parked car has avoided jail.

Shaka Griffith even quibbled over the hours of a curfew imposed on him by magistrates and complained at being ordered to pay compensation to his victim when he was sentenced by Bristol magistrates yesterday.

A court heard Griffith, 27, of Felix Road, Easton, rowed with his girlfriend before angrily driving off and crashing his speeding motorbike into Abayomi Adetayo's car.

But instead of apologising for the damage, he repeatedly punched Mr Adetayo, 46, in the face.

The court heard the attack was so ferocious it left Mr Adetayo, who had been sitting in his parked car waiting for his children outside a church in St Paul's, scared for his life.

When Mr Adetayo drove off to find help, Griffith chased him on his motorbike and beat him up again.

Despite committing the crime while on licence from a previous five-year jail sentence, Griffith yesterday walked free from Bristol Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to charges of assault and causing criminal damage.

Grinning in the dock, he smiled at his girlfriend as magistrates handed him a six-month community order.

They ordered Griffith to be tagged for 11 weeks and abide by a 9pm to 7am curfew, at which the defendant said: "Can it be 9.30pm, as I sometimes pick my girlfriend up from work?"

His request was turned down and Griffith was also ordered to pay £600 compensation to cover the £500 insurance excess on Mr Adetayo's car and £100 for his injuries.

He said paying the £600 would be inconvenient as he was on jobseeker's allowance. Magistrates told him it would be deducted directly from his benefits.

After the case, Griffith drove away from court at the wheel of a BMW 123d car, worth around £19,000.

The court heard the unprovoked road rage attack happened shortly after 12.30pm on May 31 outside the Redeemed Christian Church of God on Wilder Street.

The court heard that after the accident Mr Adetayo got out of his car to inspect the damage.

After crashing into the Vauxhall Corsa, Griffith parked his motorbike and furiously punched a wing mirror off, shattering the glass and kicking the front bumper off. Magistrates were told the damage was such that insurers had written off the car.

Griffith then punched Mr Adetayo – a much smaller man – in the face five times. Prosecuting, Dorothy Thomas said: "Mr Adetayo was astounded, petrified, and then he thought he was going to get killed. He didn't even try to defend himself."

Mr Adetayo got into his car and drove off to Albert Park to try to find help. But Griffith followed him, and when Mr Adetayo stopped next to a group of people he attacked him again, leaving him with cuts and bruises to his face.

The attack only stopped when a 74-year-old man intervened.

The court heard Griffith demanded money from Mr Adetayo for the damage he had done to his motorbike. When the police arrived Griffith shouted at them, saying it was none of their business and they didn't need to be there.

The case was due to go to trial, but Griffith changed his mind at the last minute to plead guilty.

Mrs Thomas said: "Mr Adetayo was very worried about coming to court. This was completely unprovoked on behalf of the defendant against someone minding their own business and sitting in their car."

Defending, Steve George told the court that Griffith "flipped out" because he had had an argument with his girlfriend that morning.

Mr George said: "He does not say this to excuse his behaviour and accepts he was in the wrong."