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He shot to fame after challenging a motorcyclist to a 'bare-knuckle fight' during a heated road-rage row.

Now, Ronnie Pickering has been in court after having a fight while defending his neighbourhood from an alleged drug-dealer.

Pickering confronted a man near his Bransholme home who had been causing problems for a female neighbour.

Asked what he was doing, the man told Pickering he was "hiding", and was met with a flurry of punches - including a "right hook" that cut his lip.

Summarising the case at Hull Magistrates' Court, District Judge Frederick Rutherford said: "He doesn't accept the complainant's excuse, that he's hiding from a friend who he doesn't want to see.

"Mr Pickering perhaps loses his temper. He's angered at the strange explanation, he's protective of the property, and his own, because he says he's been burgled twice, and strikes out at the gentleman, causing injury.

"Mr Pickering, when he's arrested, is still under some emotional strain because he's taken to hospital with chest pains.

"But he's discharged and says to the police, 'I'm fine, I can be interviewed'."

Pickering made admissions in interview that he had struck out in the "heat of the moment", the judge said.

But Pickering, who celebrated his 56th birthday on Tuesday with a court appearance when the case was first listed, did not accept any of his punches landed.

His solicitor, Catherine Schofield, told the judge: "Sir, he's always accepted he struck out.

"For the last two years this friend has had this gentleman dealing drugs outside her property. He says he went to lunge towards him on a couple of occasions; he doesn't say he actually connected."

"Well, somebody's connected with him because he's injured," said the judge.

John Owston, prosecuting, said: "The officer says there was blood. He's seen blood on his lips, which the complainant says was the result of being punched."

Referring back to what Pickering told police, District Judge Rutherford said: "He says he must have made contact with the victim. He's sorry for his behaviour and wants to say sorry to him."

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Miss Schofield said: "He doesn't believe he's actually made contact. The injuries I've seen, it's underneath his lip. Inside."

"Well how's he got that, then?" the judge asked.

Mr Owston said: "I'm prepared to accept that the second and third punches didn't land, but the officer is quite clear that it was a full-strength punch to the head - a right hook - it causes the complainant to stumble."

Pickering, of Kingscott Close, Bransholme, was then given time to confer with his solicitor.

When they came back into court, Miss Schofield said: "He will accept that perhaps the first blow did connect."

"So it's a guilty plea now, is it?" the judge asked.

"Yes," said Pickering, to a single charge of assault by beating on April 28.

He was cautioned for assault in 2011, but his last court appearance was in 1999, the court heard.

Mr Owston said evidence suggested the victim was a drug user, not a dealer.

Pickering, who was told he had reacted "very badly", was discharged conditionally for two years, and was ordered to pay £100 compensation to the victim, which will be deducted from his benefits.

In September 2015, Pickering became a global internet sensation when moped rider Steve Middleton filmed him on a GoPro camera shouting at him and posted it on YouTube.

Pickering was in his Citroen Xsara when Mr Middleton overtook him then waited at the front of a queue of traffic.

His expletive-laden outburst included the offer of a "bare-knuckle fight" and repeated demands to see if Mr Middleton knew who he was.

"I'm Ronnie Pickering,", Pickering declared, a number of times.

In February, Pickering was in the news again when squaring up to boxer Tommy Coyle's dad, Chris, at a weigh-in.