A TRANSVESTITE who was being ridculed by a group of abusive street drinkers stabbed one of them in the leg.

As derogatory remarks were being hurled at Christopher Johns, a woman in the group jumped on his back, grabbed his hair and pulled his earrings off.

When a man high on drink and drugs moved towards him, he reached into his rucksack and pulled out a multi-tool.

He inflicted a wound that required six stitches, Swansea Crown Court heard.

The incident happened in Swansea city centre last summer as Mr Johns walked home from his job in a charity shop.

The 43-year-old, of Garrod Avenue, Dunvant, appeared before the court to admit unlawful wounding.

Johns stood in the dock wearing make-up and earrings, and dressed in a black top with culottes and black boots.

He was said by prosecutor James Jenkins to have been targeted by a group of people drinking in Castle Square at 7pm on July 29.

They were being offensive towards people going into the McDonald's restaurant, he said.

Johns was walking through on his way home. He was in T-shirt and shorts, and was wearing make-up and jewellery.

"He is a recognised character in Swansea and known to be utterly inoffensive and are not interested in pushing his views on to anyone else," Mr jenkins told the court.

The group began behaving in a homophobic manner towards him.

In his basis of plea, Johns said he had tried to ignore the abuse but a woman had then jumped on his back and pulled at his hair and jewellery.

He said people began gathering round him and he felt frightened, fearing he would be attacked.

He took a multi-tool from his rucksack, he said.

A man approached him and Johns pushed him. The blade of the multi-tool came into contact with the man's right thigh.

The prosecutor said the man he injured, Karl Griffiths, was later to make a statement saying he did not wish to pursue a complaint of assault. Mr Griffiths confessed to having been high on drink and drugs at the time.

Johns's barrister, Huw Rees, described him as "something of a character in the nature of his appearance and dress".

He said he was clearly provoked but his use of the knife was unreasonable.

Recorder John Jenkins QC said, in sentencing Johns: "You were targeted for abuse in the street because of your appearance and clothing."

He said Johns had stabbed one of the group to the leg after fearing an attack would be made upon him.

However, there could be no justification for using a knife.

He made Johns subject to a 12- month community order, and directed that he should do 150 hours of unpaid work for the community.