A 28-year-old man who punched his brother in the head outside a police station has escaped without a fine.

Phillip Ribbans, of Wangey Road, Chadwell Heath, pleaded guilty to assaulting his brother David at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

The court heard how Ribbans – currently sectioned under the Mental Health Act – was released from Ilford police station on December 7, following arrest for a separate matter, and broke into an argument with his brother in the street.

As the situation worsened, officers saw Ribbans throw several punches before bringing him back into the station, although neither man was injured

Cautioned by police for assault in 2009 and already subject to an ongoing order, he later admitted stabbing his sibling in the head to officers on a previous occasion.

He was given a six-month conditional discharge.

District judge Gary Lucie said: “You can’t around punching people, especially your brother, because it will lead you back to court again and I’m sure you don’t want that.”

Although not forced to pay a fine or court costs, Ribbans was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15.

The judge added: “I’m not going to award your brother any compensation because, firstly, he clearly doesn’t want it as he isn’t pressing the charge, and secondly, you can’t afford it.”