A DOORMAN who tried to break up a disturbance in a Morecambe pub found himself under attack.

Paul O'Neill was said to have been punched in the face as he rushed to stop an attack on a friend.

The attacker was told by a judge that he deserved to go to prison. But sentence on Tyrone Everson was deferred so that he can go on a course and take up a work offer.

The 25-year-old of Euston Road, Morecambe had pleaded guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Mr Martin Hackett, prosecuting, told Preston Crown Court Mr O'Neill was working as a doorman at the Kings Arms pub in Morecambe on December 12 last year.

He saw one of his friends being attacked by a number of youths -- Everson is not alleged to have been involved in that incident.

Mr O'Neill and a couple of other doormen attempted to break it up and, as he was walking over, Mr O'Neill was punched in the face by the defendant.

A witness saw a man continue to punch O'Neill. The only thing O'Neill could remember was waking up in the pub toilets later. He has serious swelling to his nose and also had a cut to the bridge of the nose. Everson told police: "I've not meant to hit him. I lashed out."

Mr Russell Edmondson, defending said Everson had been the target of an assault: "He accepts his behaviour was reckless and accepts his responsibility that he caused the injury to Mr O'Neill.

"Shortly afterwards he was chased and assaulted in what might be regarded as some form of retributive justice."

Judge Edward Slinger deferred sentence to January 12 next year.