A drunken man hit a woman with a "barrage of blows" before punching a pub landlord during a night out in Bury.

Christopher Dunn was at The Spotted Cow on Bell Lane on the evening of February 3 this year with his son.

Prosecuting, Rachel Widdicombe, said Dunn and many others in the pub were clearly intoxicated.

At around 1am on February 4, Dunn was seen stood at the bar talking to an unknown woman when an argument broke out between them, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

The woman grabbed Dunn’s shirt but he pushed her causing her to fall over, the prosecutor said.

A witness told Dunn to back off from the woman and other customers were trying to get him out of the pub but he refused to leave.

Dunn saw the witness standing by the door and swore at her, demanding her to "get outside now".

She moved towards him and again asked him to leave, before Dunn started a scuffle with other customers before he charged towards her.

The woman punched him in the face in self-defence before he retaliated and hit her in the face with a "barrage of blows".

Others then tried to drag him towards the exit and the landlord of the pub also asked Dunn to leave.

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Dunn then punched the landlord, which caused a laceration to his face.

Dunn was eventually pushed outside, and the doors were shut and locked, although he was kicking at the doors trying to get back inside.

Police were called and the woman was left with a golf ball size lump to the head which then turned into a bruise.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said she was anxious and scared to leave the house in case he recognised her.

The landlord said in his statement that the attack was "totally unprovoked and uncalled for".

He added: “It ruined the night and all we were trying to do was have a good time before closing hours.”

Dunn, 42, was charged with two counts of causing actual bodily harm and pleaded guilty.

Defending, Martin Pizzey, told the court how Dunn has stopped drinking since the incident and is seeking therapy as he is mindful that he needs help.

He has been greatly affected by an incident that took place while he was in prison in 2017, when an arson attack happened at his then partner’s home in which she died some months after.

This tragedy caused him to turn to alcohol and his mental health took a downward spiral.

Mr Pizzey said: “Dunn lives alone with a therapy dog and is very sorry for what he has done and wants to prove he is now on the straight and narrow.”

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Judge Mark Savill said: “The events, disgraceful as they were, have to be looked at in the context of your background and what you have done over the last seven months.

“It’s plain that not only you were very drunk, but others were too.

“Unfortunately, when people are very drunk things that don’t matter and shouldn’t cause violence get blown out of proportion.”

Judge Savill added: “I have no doubt you’re remorseful and you have not drunk since February.

“Your mental health is significant to this case and your position in life today.

“You deserve a chance.”

Dunn, of Bell Lane, Bury, was sentenced to 16 months suspended for 20 months and is required to attend 20 rehabilitation days and do 200 hours of unpaid work.

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