Man punched pal in drunken row over a cig

Damien Carroll, of Stanley Road, Up Holland, pleaded guilty to one charge of common assault when he appeared at Wigan Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

The court heard that the two men got into an argument over the cigarette after both had been drinking in Wigan on February 2 and 26-year-old Carroll punched the other man, Mark Walsh.

The court clerk told Carroll that he was lucky Mr Walsh had not been more seriously injured.

Carroll, who the court heard has mental health issues and he was not supposed to drink because of the medication he was taking for it, was given a curfew for six weeks from 7pm until 7am.

He was also ordered to pay £150 compensation to his victim, a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs.