A MAN who claimed he went to the aid of his pregnant sister during a brawl has been barred from entering the victim’s street for the next five years.

Teesside Crown Court heard that there was “bad blood” between Anthony McLoughlin and the victim in the case after she made an allegation which previously led to his remand in custody for several months.

McLoughlin and his sister Lindsay encountered the woman as she walked to a shop in Middlesbrough to buy cigarettes.

There was an altercation in which Lindsay McLoughlin called the complainant a “grass” and a fight began.

During the fracas Anthony McLoughlin pushed the woman to the floor and also bit her hand.

Nigel Soppitt, for Anthony McLoughlin, said his sister had been pregnant at the time and he was concerned for her.

The barrister said his client had spent four and-a-half months on remand since his arrest and because of this “time served”, he could be given a sentence which would effectively mean his immediate release from prison.

Richard Herrmann, for Lindsay McLoughlin, said she had made a foolish comment which led to the fight.

He said the mother of two faced a considerable struggle in her daily life and was on sickness benefit, which made her unsuitable for unpaid work.

Both defendants admitted affray on April 14 this year.

Judge Tony Briggs said: “This was a unpleasant incident which involved a degree of bad blood and quite clearly unlawful violence was used.”

He gave 34-year-old Anthony McLoughlin, of Carlow Street, Middlesbrough, an eight month jail sentence and a five year restraining order in respect of the victim.

His 32-year-old sister, who lives in Woodlands Green, Middlesbrough, received a two year conditional discharge.