A MAN who assaulted a 'vulnerable' man he wrongly believed had stolen his phone has been jailed.

A court heard Christopher Renton punched out the man in a pub smoking area in an incident described by magistrates as 'distressing'.

The 60-year-old hit out at the victim several times before taking his phone from him.

Renton, of Barrow's Penine Gardens, admitted causing actual bodily and theft when he appeared before South Cumbria Magistrates' Court. 

The incident happened at The Ambrose Hotel in Duke Street on October 25.

The court was told that before the assault Renton had seen Mr Clarke in the pub and gone to sit close to him before the defendant got up to go to the toilet.

He returned to his seat and noticed his phone was missing, suggesting the victim had stolen it.

Later, Renton confronted the victim in the smoking area and punched him several times to the head, making threats.

Magistrates were told Renton's phone was later found where he had originally been sitting.

The court was played CCTV images of the incident, which showed Renton entering the smoking area at the hotel where the victim had been.

He could be heard asking 'where's my phone?', saying he would kill the 'vulnerable man' by slitting his throat.

The court heard the victim sustained swelling to his eyelid as a result of the attack.

In mitigation, Liz Phizacklea said: "He indicated that his mobile phone had gone missing.

"He tells me this incident was not fuelled by alcohol.

"He fully accepts it shouldn't have happened and shows a great deal of remorse."

Chair of the bench Mike Halshaw condemned Renton for the assault.

Referencing the CCTV played in court, Mr Halshaw said: "That was an extremely distressing video to watch and says more than words about how the gentleman in this case must have felt that day.

"This was a prolonged attack on a vulnerable individual on licensed premises."

Renton was sentenced to a total of 26 weeks in prison and ordered to pay £250 in compensation to the victim.