An Irvine pub-goer landed a fine for punching a man in the head after the court heard he witnessed aggressive behaviour towards a woman.

Martin Mitchelhill, of Galt Avenue, pleaded guilty to assault at Irvine’s Burns Bar and Nightclub, when he appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Thursday, October 19.

The court heard police were asked to attend the bar at 11.30pm on April 23 in relation to an ongoing disturbance.

They saw a large group of people and asked to see the CCTV, which showed 25-year-old Mitchelhill punch a man as he had been about to enter the pub. 

He was then taken to the police station where he made no comment to caution and charge.

Defence solicitor Alex Muir said: “He had been at this pub and gone outside for a cigarette and the complainer had gone out shouting at a woman.

“He was behaving in an aggressive manner towards the woman and my client intervened.

“The complainer then became aggressive to my client and the outcome of that is my client punched him." 

Sheriff Iona McDonald told Mitchelhill: “I understand the situation where you think you are doing the right thing to stop someone being aggressive to the young woman.

“Where you went wrong is that you then punched the man.”

Mitchelhill received a reduced fine of £160 at £10 per week after pleading guilty at the very first opportunity and having no previous convictions.