A 24-year-old who attacked a man he saw walking home his girlfriend after a night out was told by a magistrate yesterday that "duels" were discouraged in Bermuda.

John Cook, of School Lane, Sandys, assaulted Jared Hollis and chased him over a cliff, causing him to break his ankle, on July 17 in Sandys.

He admitted assault causing bodily harm at Magistrates' Court and was fined $400. He told Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner that Mr. Hollis provoked the fight.

Asked how, he replied: "By telling me he was taking my girl home and I'm a f***ing p**sy, so we had to fight. I didn't press charges on him for throwing bottles at me."

Defence lawyer Kendrick James added: "The victim had provoked this assault on himself. He told him: 'I take your girl'. He embarrassed him, so to speak. He's a man."

A smiling Mr. Warner told Cook: "In some jurisdictions that would be a complete defence. You must defend your honour!"

He added that, on a more serious note, Mr. Hollis had suffered serious injuries in the scuffle. Prosecutor Paula Tyndale said Cook used his fists to attack his victim and kicked him, eventually leaving him "lying there".

She said Mr. Hollis was left with a bruised, tender and broken right ankle.

Mr. Warner said: "In my view, it can be dealt with by way of a fine." He added: "We don't allow firearms in this country; we discourage duels."