News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A man who chased and attacked a green-haired woman with a bottle of vodka after smoking spice believed she was a Jedi Knight.

Marc Anthony Sefton was seen staggering, crouching near bushes outside a supermarket and shouting expletives before the assault.

The 31-year-old repeatedly shouted "Jedi Knight" as the victim walked on the opposite side of the street and then began to chase her.

When Sefton caught up with her she tried to calm him down, but he hit her across the face with a bottle of vodka, a court was told.

(Image: Reuters)

He was jailed for 12 weeks when he appeared at Sefton Magistrates Court via video-link from Walton prison.

Lynn Clark, prosecuting, said the victim had merely being going about her business near the town centre of Southport, Merseyside, when she was attacked on November 7 last year.

She spotted Sefton crouching beside bushes outside a supermarket in Albert Road and told police he appeared "very drunk" and "extremely aggressive" as he staggered and repeatedly shouted "f***", said Miss Clark.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

The prosecutor added: "He shouted the words towards her, 'Jedi Knight'. She talked to him, ‘Am I Jedi Knight?’, and then continues to walk towards Lord Street.

"She could hear him shouting ‘Jedi Knight’ again and heard it getting louder and louder and turned and saw him running after her.

"He caught up with her and she turned to face him. He appeared very agitated, aggressive and manic in his actions. She felt that he was under the influence of something."

(Image: Southport Visiter)

Miss Clark said the woman tried to calm him down and asked if he was OK, when he replied, “No, I am not OK, you are a Jedi Knight".

She said: “The defendant then struck the woman with a three-quarter full bottle of Grey Goose vodka, striking her on the left cheek."

The incident lasted about five minutes and afterwards the victim ran to Southport Police Station. She suffered swelling to her left cheek and a headache, the court was told.

Miss Clark added: "She describes that the whole incident has left her feeling shocked and in pain.

Sefton, of Clarendon Road, Anfield, Liverpool, was found hiding in a nearby garden and kicked at police as they tried to get him into the back of a caged police van.

Related video - Shocking video shows prisoners high on the synthetic drug Spice

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

The following day he told police he was on his second bottle of vodka after travelling to Birkdale to visit a friend, and he could not remember the incident.

Nick Archer, defending, said: “One of his friend’s had given him some spice to smoke which had a very strange effect on him and his behaviour is best described as bizarre.

"The only explanation that the complainant can give as to the constant repetition of 'Jedi Knight' is that you will have seen from the photos that she has green hair.

"Whether that has offended him while he was in this strange state, we don’t know. He is at a loss to explain his behaviour.”

Mr Archer added: “He has never used spice before and he certainly will not be using it again given the strange effect it had on him.”

Spice is a former legal high which is a mixture of herbs sprayed with a chemical to produce a similar sensation to marijuana, although it is said to be 1,000 times stronger than cannabis.

Sefton, who was in custody on remand for an unrelated matter when he appeared on February 22, was jailed for 12 weeks and ordered to pay £250 in compensation and £115 in victim surcharge.