A PUB–GOER who refused a landlady’s request to leave and became involved in a brawl has been spared jail.

Bolton Crown Court heard how, on November 8 last year, Lee Isherwood was asked to leave the Grey Mare pub in Ramsbottom after becoming argumentative.

David Lees, prosecuting, said that Isherwood refused and a fight started at the Bolton Street pub.

Isherwood, of Hillside Road, Ramsbottom, pleaded guilty to using threatening and abusive behaviour.

A co-accused, 32-year-old Dean Southern, of George Road, Ramsbottom, was handed a 12-month community order at Bury Magistrates' Court for the part he played in the incident.

Only four months before the fight, 30-year-old Isherwood had been given a suspended prison sentence for inflicting grievous bodily harm when he smashed a bottle over a man’s head.

Andrew Gilmore, defending, said Isherwood is ashamed of what he did in the pub in November.

“He is devastated by his behaviour on that night and that he is back before the court,” said Mr Gilmore.

He added that at the time Isherwood, who works as a groundsman, had only just started a course to address his behaviour and it had not had time to take effect.

But since then he has completed the programme.

“The Lee Isherwood you have before you is a much more responsible young man,” Mr Gilmore told Recorder Richard Gioserano.

“He does not drink anymore and drugs are a distant memory.”

Recorder Gioserano told Isherwood that his actions in the pub were not acceptable.

“You engaged in disgraceful behaviour when you should have been on your best behaviour,” he said.

But added that to send Isherwood to jail immediately would ignore the progress he has made since November.

Instead Isherwood was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months and was ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work.