AN alcoholic who pushed another drunk to the ground breaking his ankle has been jailed for eight months.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that after knocking over the victim Keith Marett sat on him smoking a roll-up cigarette while a by-stander laughed.

Marett, 46, had not realised that Brian Cushing's ankle had been broken but the fall had caused a compound fracture with the bone poking out. He was taken to hospital for treatment and has since made a full recovery.

Marett, of Buccleuch Street, Birkenhead, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm.

Kim Egerton, prosecuting, said that the incident happened on the afternoon of December 4 last year near the Ark in Birkenhead where Mr Cushing was living.

An argument developed between the two men over a £5 debt and after they squared up to each other Marett grabbed hold of Mr Cushing by the lapels and pushed him to the ground and the sat on him.

The victim was so drunk that he initially thought he had just passed out in the gutter and did not want to support a prosecution but two months later, believing he might lose his leg, he changed his mind.

Lee Bonner, defending, said that Marett, who has no previous convictions for violence, had worked for the Liverpool Womens Hospital in a scientific role but had had a nervous breakdown and spent six months living on the streets.

Since the incident he has been getting his life back together, he added.