An Ipswich man chased down and assaulted a worker in the early hours of the morning after shouting out him “do you have money?”.

Joseph Sanhoh, 48, of Woodbridge Road in the town, admitted assaulting Janusz Sardacki in the early hours of May 8.

On Friday, prosecutor Wayne Ablett told Suffolk Magistrates’ Court in Ipswich Mr Sardacki is a forklift operator who was standing on Majors Corner at 4am waiting to be picked up to go to work.

Sanhoh spotted him and shouted at him: “Are you working, do you have money?”

CCTV played in the court showed Mr Sardacki tried to run off as the defendant began moving towards him, but tripped as a chase began and was then punched multiple times on the ground.

He curled up in a ball until the assault ended and Sanhoh walked off as Mr Sardacki stood up.

The prosecutor said Mr Sardacki told police “I saw anger and hatred in his eyes” following the attack.

However no severe injuries were caused, with bruising and scratching to the victim’s face, hands and knees.  

Mr Ablett told the court that when officers interviewed the defendant, who appeared via video link from HMP Norwich, about beating Mr Sardacki on the floor he said: “I don’t give a sh*t, you do that at war.”

The court heard the defendant’s mental health is being assessed and he had been advised not to enter a plea.

The case was adjourned until Wednesday, June 19 for sentencing at Suffolk Magistrates’ Court and Sanhoh was remanded in custody.