A MAN who assaulted two men in the toilets of an Ulverston pub has been given a suspended jail term and a four month curfew to keep him out of drinking haunts over the festive period.

Preston Crown Court heard that Jamie Halligan, 23, got in an argument with a man in the gents toilets at the Sun Inn during the early hours of April 21.

The court was told that Wayne Fleming – the other man’s brother-in-law – attempted to calm the situation down and was punched to the head.

He fell to the ground and was kicked several times to the head and face, ending up with a cut upper lip, two lumps to the back of his head and bruised elbows.

The court was told Simon Beddoes, another man who tried to stop the fight, was also punched and received a broken nose. Halligan, of Brewery Street, Barrow, had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to one offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and another of common assault. Closed circuit television footage from the pub was played in court.

Halligan was sentenced to 44 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, along with 12 months supervision. He will have to remain at home from 8pm to 8am for four months.

Sentencing, Judge Michael Byrne said: “I think you are a danger with alcohol inside you when you are in public houses, when your brute strength takes over.”

Richard Bennett, defending, said his client had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

“There seems to have been a deal of provocation, a lack of pre-meditation and almost an excessive use of self defence”, said the barrister. “He didn’t enter the toilets for the purpose of a fight. It was in an entirely non confrontational manner.

“Mr Fleming was approaching the defendant, who was backing off and putting his arms up largely in a conciliatory gesture. At some point when the grappling started, the defendant had clearly attempted to push Mr Fleming away.

“He says Mr Fleming was recognised by the defendant as one of a group of people who at an earlier stage had been insulting to him and a friend.”

Mr Bennett said Halligan suggested there had been some degree of provocation from Mr Beddoes.