Man jailed for punching Fergie

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Homeless Kevin Reynolds, branded by the judge a "significant risk to the public", spotted the Manchester United manager outside a train station, staggered towards him and delivered a single blow.

His "stunned" victim promptly doubled up in agony and, as he fought for breath, managed to gasp "What the hell are you doing?".

The 44-year-old beggar - whose criminal record boasts a total of 146 convictions including many for violence, during nearly a quarter of a century of drink-driven offending - promptly insisted: "I'm sorry Fergie, I didn't realise it was you."

But almost immediately afterwards he held out his arms and started shouting: "Fergie, Fergie, shut your mouth."

Peter Zinner, prosecuting, told London's Southwark Crown Court: "Your honour may know it is a chant that is used by football supporters in Scotland, or is something heard at matches involving Manchester United when Sir Alex gets excited."

The barrister said the club manager was left standing there in both considerable pain and "somewhat bemused amazement".

Sir Alex later told police in an impact statement: "He really gave me a whack. At the time my natural instinct was to react and defend myself. However, I decided against it as I did not know if he was carrying any weapon and might come at me again."

He said that fortunately he suffered only "bruising and soreness" and there had been no "lasting effects".

"This is not something I expect to happen to me when I am going about my daily business and it completely stunned me," he added.