A MAN who claimed he was protecting a woman when he punched another man has been jailed.

Philip Tobin, 42, of Clarendon Road, Morecambe, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm and was jailed for five months.

The incident occurred outside the Ranchhouse public house in Morecambe. Mr Paul Morgan, prosecuting, told Preston Crown Court that Tobin was walking with two women and as they passed three men a derogatory comment was made about one of the women.

The women turned round and the men continued until one woman began to prod one of the men. "The defendant walked up to the smallest male," said Mr Horgan. Tobin punched the man to the floor. Victim Nigel Bennett was left with a fractured skull from the attack and still has partial loss of hearing.

Mr Patrick Thompson, defending said the woman had been deeply insulted. The woman had been attacked before and Tobin claimed that was why he protected her in that manner.

"He decided to strike the first blow," said Mr Thompson. "He is disgusted with himself."

Recorder David Aubrey QC told Tobin "There is no excuse of justification for what you did." He said the sentence was only five months because "it was one punch and one punch only."

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