A MAN who punched an Ellesmere Port pub staff member in view of families enjoying the football is to be sentenced.

John McDonagh, 53, pleaded guilty to assault by beating and threatening behaviour when he appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on Monday, February 20.

Both of those offences, the court heard, took place on the afternoon of Saturday, February 18 at The Grace Arms pub in Ellesmere Port.

When McDonagh was later located by police, he was also found to be in possession of the class B drug cannabis, which he also pleaded guilty to at court.

Prosecuting, Alan Currums said it was at about 5.30pm when the complainant, John James, was made aware of a table of three men and one woman in the pub, which was busy with customers including children, and the football was on the TV screens. Mr James had been made aware a bar stool had been thrown.

As staff tried to remove the group from the pub, Mr James was punched in the face by McDonagh, who used a closed fist to the left side of the jaw. McDonagh had tried hitting Mr James with the other fist but missed.

The punch caused Mr James about an hour of pain, but nothing further. He went to the emergency box in the pub and called police.

A man matching the description on McDonagh was later found, and he had cannabis in his pocket when police searched him at the time of arrest.

McDonagh had previous convictions, with his last offence involving violence being in 2017 in Ireland.

Defending, Michael Gray said McDonagh remembered "very little" about the offence. He had been drinking when his mother had come over from Ireland to visit, and had been in custody since Saturday as police were not sure of a permanent address for him.

The court heard McDonagh could stay with his brother, who had attended court, at an address in Stanley Road, Bootle.

There were also concerns over McDonagh's mental health issues, and a pre-sentence report would be required.

District Judge Jack McGarva bailed McDonagh on condition he lives at his brother's address, observes a 9pm-6am home curfew, and is prohibited from entering Ellesmere Port until he is sentenced on Tuesday, March 21.