THE manager of a Darlington nightspot was punched in the face during a late-night altercation.

Steven Moules was assaulted by a drinker while he was working at Flares pub, in Skinnergate, on a Saturday night in April.

Darlington Magistrates' Court heard that Mr Moules had approached David Newcombe, who had been messing around with a friend, and asked him to stop his behaviour or leave.

Mr Newcombe, a warehouse man, of Trueman Grove, Darlington then hit the pub manager in the face.

Simon Crowder, prosecuting, said: "It was very busy in the pub. Mr Moules saw two people not far away acting in an unacceptable way. He went over to ask them to calm down and said they would have to leave if they didn't.

"He went back to the bar area but they started acting silly again. The defendant took two steps toward him and punched him in the face. It was an unprovoked attack."

Michael Rayner, defending, said Mr Newcombe had been out drinking with his wife and friend and had not realised that Mr Moules was the manager of the pub.

He said: "He has accepted that his behaviour was not acceptable. He said he was spoken to by a gentleman, he was not aware that he was the licensee. Had he been aware his reaction would have been different.

"Mr Newcombe was struck while in the public house, the licensee was approaching him and he accepts he punched the first person he saw.

"He is not saying Mr Moules was responsible for that assault but somebody had assaulted him."

Mr Newcombe pleaded guilty to striking Mr Moules and was fined £75 and ordered to pay £100 costs.