A FURNESS man’s promising rugby career was seriously prejudiced by a single punch thrown in an alleyway, a court has heard.

Sam Jones suffered a fractured temporal bone in his head and spent six days in hospital following the assault.

Preston Crown Court heard that the blow had been delivered by an Ulverston man trying to look after an injured friend who had apparently been knocked out in an unrelated violent incident.

Michael Cronin had sought to allow his friend to recover as he lay injured by barring entry to the alleyway between William Street and Slater Street, Barrow.

Cronin, 28, of Underwood Road, Ulverston, was given 12 month jail term, suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 275 hours unpaid work. He had pleaded guilty to a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The court was told that Mr Jones had been on a night out with friends on June 25 last year. At one stage he was on his own and walked down an alleyway between two pubs.

Julian Taylor, prosecuting, said there had been an earlier incident involving the defendant's friend. In the alley, Mr Jones was approached by Cronin who punched him to the face resulting in him falling to the ground and striking his head.

The victim was unconscious. He spent six days in hospital and then a long period convalescing at home.

In addition to Mr Jones not being able to play rugby for quite a long time, he was off work from his job with BAE Systems for a considerable amount of time and was only able to do light duties when he returned.

The court was told that Cronin had thrown the punch to stop Mr Jones from walking down the alleyway where his injured friend was.

David Traynor, defending, said his client was well aware that he could be sent to jail.

The barrister told the court "The defendant accepts his actions were unacceptable. It was a confused situation.

"He wasn't thinking right at the time, perhaps due to drink and perhaps due to the situation he was in.

"He didn't intend the very severe injuries that happened. He has to accept that if you go around punching people, you have to bear responsibility for what happens.

"He is devastated about the injuries caused and the effect on the victim."

Passing sentence Judge Robert Altham said: "People sometimes die from a single blow to the head and a fall to the ground."