A MAN who launched a vicious attack whilst drunk today begged magistrates to ban him from pubs and nightclubs.

Adam John Davies knocked a fellow reveller out with one punch following an altercation in Darlington in April.

Darlington Magistrates Court heard that Davies, 25, had been on a night out with friends when he came across a woman whose handbag had been stolen.

He had been trying to arrange a taxi for her when another man intervened, leading to an argument between the pair that saw Davies lose his temper and punch him in the face.

Former drug user and heavy drinker Davies – of Coleridge Gardens, Darlington - pleaded with magistrates to ban him from nightspots throughout the town in a bid to change his life.

Leanne Galbraith, mitigating, said: “He has been banned from them since the incident and has found this very useful as he was drinking very heavily.

“He has found other ways to occupy his time, such as fishing and spending time with his fiancée.”

Chair of the bench, Margaret Cunningham, warned him of the potentially fatal consequences of drunken fighting and said: “There is an old expression, in goes drink and out go brains, you should remember that.

“Around ten years ago, a young man was felled in this town with one punch from another young man, like you, who did not intend great harm.

“Remember, that could happen at any time.”

She added: “In the end you have to decide that you are not going into licensed premises.

“A six month exclusion order may help you on your way so that you are discouraged from socialising in such places.”

As well as the exclusion order, which bans him from licensed premises in Darlington excluding supermarkets, Davies was ordered to serve a nine month supervision order and do 40 hours unpaid work.