A PUB-GOER who broke down a door and attacked the landlord after closing time has received a suspended prison sentence.

Daniel Smith was among customers who left the Marcia Gray pub in Front Street, Acomb, when time was called shortly before 1am on November 23, said Ian Brook, prosecuting.

He had been drinking and hugged landlord Kevin Savage on the way out, and the door was locked behind him. But shortly afterwards Smith, 34, smashed a large glass panel in the door and got back in.

The staff inside feared what would happen and Mr Savage armed himself with a fire extinguisher and tried to spray Smith with the contents.

Mr Brook said: “The defendant grabbed the extinguisher off him, swung it at Mr Savage, striking him on the shoulder and face. He knocked the complainant to the ground. The defendant then rained numerous punches at Mr Savage’s head and body.”

The landlord’s injuries to his shoulder, chest and face kept him off work for three weeks.

Recorder Graeme Cook told Smith: “You left quite cordially, but for some reason known only to yourself, you decided to go back.”

Smith, a commercial cleaners’ engineer of Kingsway West, Acomb, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

He was given a 26-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months on condition he does 150 hours’ unpaid work. He must also pay £940 in compensation for the injuries and replacing the door’s window.

For him, Andrew Semple said he had no previous convictions for violence and the incident on November 23 was out of character.

He had been frightened by his own actions and had been “agonising for three months” over what had happened.