Bennett launched a vicious attack on an innocent man who dared to step in as he argued with his pregnant girlfriend.

More top stories this week...
Breast fondler keeps his job
Jogger attacked with Mars bar
Labour fury over 150 per cent pay rise
Postie's pot shot terror
Canoe pair facing crown court
Living in fear of CJD

His victim grabbed him in a bear hug when he heard Bennett say he was going to kill his partner.

Bennett, 21, then attacked the man, punching him several times before he was eventually thrown out of Changes bar in York Road.

As he was led away by police, enraged Bennett began banging his head on the side of a police van and went on to headbutt a wall.

The attack happened on February 3 ? just months after violent Bennett was convicted for public disorder and following a previous assault.

Bennett escaped jail but magistrates barred him from every bar in England and Wales for the next three months.

Samantha Morgan-Baylis, prosecuting, told Hartlepool Magistrates' Court how Bennett was heard to say he was going to kill his partner, before the man took him in a bear hug to calm him down.

Bennett then punched the man several times before being thrown out of the pub and arrested by police. As he was taken away in a police van he started banging his head on the side of the vehicle and went on to bang his head off a wall when he was taken into the police station.

During an interview he told the police he had drunk eight pints and said the man should not have interfered.

The unemployed asbestos worker, of Macaulay Road, Hartlepool, admitted common assault.

The court heard Bennett has previous matters of public order for which he received a community order in November 2006, and an assault on his record.

Helen Adams, mitigating, said: "Prior to this taking place he hadn't drunk for a four-month period and he says that he virtually doesn't drink at all now."

Magistrates gave Bennett a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work.

As well as the pub ban, he was told to pay £175 compensation.