A PUB worker asked a rowdy customer to calm down — and was knocked unconscious.

Royston Laurence was working at the Railway pub in Bridge Street, Ramsbottom, at just after midnight of March 5 when he noticed the customer being loud, aggressive and threatening.

Mr Laurence went over to ask the man, Lee Grimshaw, to respect other customers — and Grimshaw stood up and headbutted him.

Police were called and Grimshaw, aged 21, of Limefield Brow, Bury, was arrested and later charged with assault and possession of two snap bags of cocaine.

He admitted both counts to Bury magistrates on March 7 and was jailed.

Grimshaw was also banned from the pub for two years and given a two-year conditional discharge for the drugs offence.

Magistrates said the assault was serious as Grimshaw carried out the attack while on licence and because he did it while under the influence of alcohol and in a public place.

After the hearing, Mr Laurence said he had suffered cuts to his nose in the attack and had made a recovery over the weekend.

He added: "The man was very aggressive and, at the time of the night, we, as staff, are the sober ones who can see things clearly.

"I asked him politely to consider others and was attacked.

"We have barred him for life but I am pleased that the court has legally barred him for two years.

"I am glad that I intervened. He was so aggressive that, if he hadn’t have kicked off in the pub, it would have been nearby.

"The amount of anger he had was surprising. You can't behave like that in society."