A MAN who had just made the peace with another man following a pub row was then punched by a third man.

Blackburn magistrates heard the victim needed stitches to the inside and outside of his mouth after Rory McFarlane landed a single punch to his face.

McFarlane, 40, of Langwood Court, Haslingden, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mark Reeves. He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 15 days' rehabilitation activity requirement and a drug rehabilitation requirement for six months. He was fined £50 and ordered to pay £100 compensation and excluded from the Knuzden Tap, where the incident occurred, for 12 months.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said Mr Reeves was playing pool in the pub. He was aware of the defendant who he had known for about 10 years but hadn't seen for a while.

"The defendant had been acting strangely all night and had been warned by the landlady about his behaviour," said Mr Robinson.

Mr Reeves made a comment about a TV news item about Covid and another man disagreed and it led to an argument.

"The two men went out into the smoking area where they had words before shaking hands and actually hugging each other," said Mr Robinson. "The defendant walked out and punched Mr Reeves to the side of his face."

Mr Reeves needed eight stitches to the inside of his mouth and three to the inside after his teeth went through his lip. His two front teeth were wobbly and sore to the touch.