A MAN involved in a brawl at a Chester city centre pub accidentally hit the pub manager, a court heard.

James Lloyd, 52, of Dawpool Court, Chester, appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on Friday, December 29, where he pleaded guilty to assaulting Old Queens Head pub manager Natasha El-Ammar on the basis of it being a reckless action.

Prosecuting, Joseph Kindley said an altercation had broken out at the pub on November 16 between Lloyd and others.

During the attempt by the pub manager to intervene and break up the fight, Lloyd threw a punch and hit the side of her head, causing her "some pain and a headache".

In police interview, Lloyd was shown footage of the assault, in which he confirmed he was the one who threw the punch and said he had hit her by mistake.

He had three previous convictions for five offences.

Defending, Paul Williams said Lloyd had been at the pub in a booth, peacefully, with his partner when "other parties came over and caused problems".

Lloyd had retreated to the back of the bar and a yellow cone was placed, by the pub manager, as a warning to the others not to cross, but they "acted aggressively" towards Lloyd and the altercation ensued.

Lloyd apologised to Ms El-Ammar for what he had done.

The court heard Lloyd had formerly been in the Turkish Army, working in Afghanistan as a peacekeeper, where he had seen people suffer life-changing injuries, and he had PTSD and depression which he was looking to resolve.

A representative from probation said there was concern Lloyd had committed this offence three days after his 18-month suspended sentence had ended, but Lloyd could be managed in the community with a mental health requirement.

Magistrates handed Lloyd a 12-month community order to include up to 20 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement, the Thinking Skills Programme and 60 hours unpaid work.

He must pay £120 court costs, £100 compensation to the pub manager and a £114 victim surcharge.