A MAN punched a young woman when she resisted his advance in a nightclub, a court was told.

John Tallentire threw a single blow, breaking the 24-year-old victim's nose, after earlier dancing and kissing her once, late on a Saturday night, last June.

Durham Crown Court heard that she initially got on well with Tallentire, who told her he was called Peter, but she declined to give him her mobile phone number.

David Scutt, prosecuting, said Tallentire went to his friends at the bar, then returned to the woman, telling her he had a girlfriend of six months, before he punched her.

She fell to the floor with a bleeding nose, feeling sick and dizzy.

She spent five days in hospital and needed surgery.

Andrew Finley, for Tallentire, of previous good character, said his client was remorseful and horrified at his actions.

He said Tallentire believes he thought the woman told him she was a man, which she denied doing.

Mr Finley presented several testimonials to the court highlighting Tallentire's otherwise good character.

Tallentire, 28, of Valley View, Catchgate, near Stanley, County Durham, admitted causing grievous bodily harm.

Recorder Peter Atherton, having looked at photographs of the victim's injuries, said: "It is plain she could not be mistaken for a man."

Jailing him for six months, Recorder Atherton said that despite Tallentire's remorse and previous good character, it was too serious to merit anything else.