A MAN was struck with a table leg while trying to act as peacemaker in a pub scene involving colleagues.

Paul Rushworth received hospital treatment for a six centimetre head wound.

The man responsible had hit out due to ribbing from the victim's brother.

Preston Crown Court heard that the three men all worked for the same plastering firm and in December last year had gone out for a celebratory drink.

Forty-two year old Gregory McLelland of Balmoral Road, Morecambe was placed on twelve months community rehabilitation by a judge who also ordered that he pay Mr Rushworth £150 compensation.

He had pleaded guilty to a charge of wounding.

The victim was a plasterer's labourer employed at Carnforth and his brother and the defendant were also employed by the same man.

Mr Julian Holt, prosecuting, said the men had finished work for Christmas and next day went out for a celebratory drink.

They spent the afternoon at a Carnforth pub before going back to Morecambe by minibus.

On the journey to Morecambe Mr Rushworth's brother Ian was said to have been "having a go" at the defendant, both verbally and physically.

The brother punched McLelland three to four times about the head and Paul Rushworth restrained him.

Inside the Crown hotel at Morecambe, another argument started off and Mr Rushworth again intervened to calm things down.

Both brothers fell on the floor.

At this point the defendant picked up a small wooden table leg and swung it, hitting Mr Rushworth over the head.

He was taken to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary where he received sutures and staples to the wound.

He was able to return to work several days later and the defendant approached and apologised.

He said he was truly sorry for what had happened and that he had not meant to do it to him.

In police interview McLelland said he had been "ribbed" by the brother and that he had thought he was hitting out at Ian Rushworth.

Defence barrister Mr Mark Savill told the court that according to witnesses McLelland had not said anything in return when told by Ian Rushworth that nobody liked him.

And neither did he retaliate when punched to the back of the head on the way to the Morecambe pub.

He was again punched inside the pub, several minutes later.

Mr Savill added: " Some people may say that Mr Rushworth may have been asking for it because on three to five occasions the defendant restrained himself completely from any violence.

It was only when Paul had to restrain his own brother that sadly he swung out and contacted with the wrong person.

"From the very outset the defendant has apologised and made known his regret for what happened."

The barrister added that Ian Rushworth had been prosecuted for drunk and disorderly behaviour that night.

The defendant himself had not been working in recent times on medical grounds.

Passing sentence, Judge Anthony Proctor said in one sense the case deserved a prison sentence, but he appreciated what effect that would have had on the defendant and his home.