An aggressive thug repeatedly punched a stall owner in the head after being confronted about stealing a flower.

Paul Rogers walked past the stall at Clapham Junction station, taking an orchid without paying for it, on October 17 last year.

When the stall owner asked him what he was doing the 29-year-old viciously set upon him, repeatedly punching him in the head.

Two off-duty Metropolitan Police officers were walking through the station at the time and intervened.

Rogers, of Barset Road in Southwark, was arrested by uniformed officers who arrived at the scene a short time later.

The victim was left with injuries to his eye and required hospital treatment.

Rogers pleaded guilty to one count of common assault and another of theft at Westminster Magistrates' Court on February 16.

At City of London Magistrates' Court on April 25, he was sentenced to eight weeks behind bars, suspended for 12 months, plus ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £1,516 in compensation.

On Monday (May 15) in a statement released by British Transport Police, investigating officer Detective Constable Christopher Smethem said: "This was an unprovoked attack on a flower stall owner who Rogers had stolen from.

"Violence will not be tolerated by BTP and I am pleased that Rogers has been sentenced for this crime, and hopefully it will deter him from acting in such an aggressive and unacceptable manner in future."