A THUG who left a customer with a serious ear injury after a two-part pub assault has won his freedom.

Adam Neal, 27, punched victim Paul Mottershead once outside the Abbey pub, in Accrington, went inside, then went back out and headbutted him, Burnley Crown Court was told.

Neal claimed he thought a ‘relatively elderly’ couple in the premises needed protecting, after the woman fell to the floor.

His barrister said he stepped in for what he thought were the best of reasons, but a judge said he had stepped in because he wanted a fight, and fancied himself as a bit of a boxer.

Neal, of South Street, Accrington, had been charged with wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, as it was first thought he had bitten Mr Mottershead’s ear. But he denied the allegation, and admitted the lesser charge of unlawful wounding, which was accepted by the prosecution.

Neal, who has served six years for robbery, had been on remand since June 22, and had served the equivalent of almost a year in custody. He was given 16 months in custody, suspended for 12 months for the violence, which was captured on CCTV.

Judge Beverley Lunt told him: “You had no business doing what you did. You looked just like a thug. You were dressed like a thug. You behaved like a thug. You were bouncing around like a thug.”