A WIRRAL man who assaulted a pub landlord was jailed for nine months.

Karl McHugh was told by the judge, Recorder Stephen Riordan QC, that he had launched "a cowardly and vicious unprovoked attack" on his victim.

"You head-butted and punched him in the face and then, when he went to the ground, kicked his body. Towards the end of the incident two other unidentified people joined in.

"Licensees are entitled to expect that when they are assaulted on their premises the courts will act sternly to protect them."

McHugh, aged 29, had been convicted after a trial of assaulting Darren Broxton, the landlord of the Claughton Hotel, Upton Road, Claughton Village, on September 5 last year.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that the landlord was suspicious that McHugh was using drugs in the toilet and when he confronted him was attacked. His injuries included a suspected fractured cheekbone.

McHugh, of Maybank Road, Tranmere, denied the allegations and told the jury that the landlord grabbed hold of him and he just pushed him away while acting in self-defence.

His barrister Keith Sutton said that McHugh, who was of effective good character, maintained drugs were not involved. He had been affronted when the suggestion was made by the landlord.

A father of two, he had acted out of character, but took responsibility for what he had done, he said.

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