Attacker who thumped man in pub keeps freedom
An attacker who "thumped" a man in a city pub has kept his freedom.
Martyn Solomon approached the victim, who was on a bar stool, pulled him by his shoulders from behind and punched him.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the men then grappled with each other, Solomon threw another blow and they struggled with their arms around each other's necks.
Prosecutor Omar Ahmad said they ended up on the floor inside the pub, in Newcastle, and the victim suffered a cut to his ear after the violence last April.
He said in an impact statement he was left "watching over my shoulder" and felt on edge the next time he went out.
Solomon, 32, of Hall Avenue, Durham, admitted assault.
David Callan, defending, said Solomon has significant health problems, he knew the victim and there was a background to the attack.
The court heard Solomon had been out drinking that night.
Judge Stephen Earl sentenced him to a two year community order with 90-days alcohol abstinence requirement.
The judge said people cannot take the the law into their hands because they feel aggrieved by something and said: "You go up to him and out of nowhere, it looks like, you thump him."