A DARWEN man's visit to a pub ended up with him assaulting three people.

Robert Storrie apologised to one of his victims early on -- but later was seen kicking out and punching at the same man outside. Two women were also affected by his violence, Preston Crown Court heard.

Storrie, aged 30, of Police Street, appeared for sentence on two charges of actual bodily harm assault and one of common assault. He admitted the offences.

Mr Gordon Hennel, prosecuting, said that one evening last March a man named Brian Challenger and some others were at the Railway pub in Darwen.

Some time after 10pm the defendant headbutted him to the back of the head.

This made Mr Challenger fall against Rachel Howarth, hitting her on the jaw.

A couple of minutes later Storrie came back and apologised for what he had done, even shaking hands with members of the group.

Soon after that the group left the pub.

But outside the defendant punched Mr Challenger to the head.

Another woman, named Selina Berry, felt a blow to the back of the head as tried to protect him.

The three people suffered bruising, swelling or tenderness.

Defence barrister Mr Tony Cross said Storrie felt genuine remorse and accepted responsibility for his behaviour.

"His recollection is limited due to the amount of alcohol he had consumed.

"The violence he seems to have offered in the first instance was not thought worthy of reporting.

"Only when his behaviour turned nasty later on was police intervention necessary."

Judge David Boulton jailed Storrie for six months.