A man who had been drinking in a Watford town centre pub launched a violent attack after his wife had been accidentally hit on the head.

Tony Myring was grappling with Daniel Evans outside The Moon Under Water in the High Street when Mrs Myring was struck as she tried to separate them.

Myring, 48, shouted: "Oi, you are f****** dead. Don't hit my wife", before putting him to the ground and repeatedly striking him, St Albans Crown Court was told on Friday.

Prosecutor Isabel Delamare said Mr Evans had bought two shirts from Myring's wife while they were drinking in The Moon Under Water. All three left the pub at around a quarter to seven and the two men started scuffling.

Mrs Myring intervened and was caught, accidentally on the head. At that Myring went for Mr Evans. They rolled around on the ground and crashed into a pub sign on the pavement.

"The defendant was on top of Mr Evans and repeatedly punched him. Bar staff and members of the public broke it up. Mr Evans was bleeding heavily from the face. An ambulance was called and Mr Evans was seen disorientated and angry," said Ms Delamere.

Mr Evans, who was under the influence of drink, suffered a fractured cheek bone and a suspected rib fracture. He was treated at Watford and then Northwick Park Hospital.

When Myring was arrested and said: "He punched my wife." But he made no comment in police interviews.

Myring of Sisken Close, Bushey, admitted causing actual bodily harm to Mr Evans on 10 April last year.

He had one previous conviction from 2005 for having a bladed article when he went to the aid of a neighbour who was having problems with a large group of youths.

Tim Banks, defending, said: "He is remorseful and regrets his actions. He lost his temper. He felt his wife had been hit and he had been drinking. "

He said Myring was on benefits and suffered from severe post traumatic stress disorder from events earlier in his life.

Recorder Jonathan Lee told Myring: "You and Mr Evans had been drinking. Your wife had been hit. Your response was wholly disproportionate. Not only did you floor the victim you continued the attack which was sustained and violent."

He gave him credit for his guilty plea and passed a three month jail sentence suspended for 12 months, with a three month curfew between 7pm and 7am and ordered him to pay his victim £300 compensation.

As he left the court Myring said: "Thank you your honour."