BARMAN Steven Gallagher acted out of character when he bit and punched a reveller, a court was told yesterday.
Harvey Murray, prosecuting, told Harrogate magistrates the man was in a group walking along Victoria Avenue after a night on the town when 30-year-old Gallagher joined them.
He was pushed away several times by one of two women in the group and then began throwing punches and knocking a man to the ground.
When another of the group, Scott Taylor, jumped on Gallagher to try to end the incident, he was held in a headlock, bitten on his right forearm and punched in his left eye.
Gallagher, of Robert Street, Harrogate, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour provoking fear of violence.
Geoffrey Boothby, in mitigation, said Gallagher hoped to run a pub but did not know how the conviction would affect his aim.
But he said his client acted out of character after severe provocation.
Court chairman Gillian Horrox fined Gallagher £120 with £70 costs and told him: "This was a nasty incident with some very aggressive behaviour on your part, but we understand there was some provocation."
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