A pubgoer who was assaulted by a fellow drinker got his revenge by ambushing him outside

Thomas McCluskey, 57 — who has a heart condition — sprang from the doorway of Lithgows bar on Cathcart Street and knocked the other man to the ground as he walked along the road.

McCluskey had minutes earlier been assaulted by the man within the nearby James Watt pub, but had told a manager in there that he'd merely fallen over, Greenock Sheriff Court heard.

Prosecutor Lindy Scaife said: "The complainer was walking past the front door of Lithgows pub and the accused lunged out from the doorway and punched him.

"This caused the complainer to fall backwards to the ground and the accused landed on top of him and he delivered four more punches.

"The accused was arrested and it was noted that he had injuries when he was taken to the station.

"His position to the police was that he had been assaulted by the complainer earlier within the James Watt but he refused to provide details."

McCluskey — who has no previous convictions for violence — pleaded guilty to having assaulted the other man under provocation.

He committed the offence on the evening of July 2.

The other man was found to have swelling but no fractures.

Defence lawyer David Tod said: "Mr McCluskey and the complainer are known to one another.

"There was a disagreement whereby the complainer assaulted him and Mr McCluskey took himself off and made arrangements to get a taxi up the road.

"He was standing in the doorway of Lithgows waiting for a taxi to arrive when the complainer came out of the James Watt.

"The view Mr McCluskey took was that the complainer had come out to look for him again.

"He accepts that he's gone beyond any self defence.

"The last time he was in the sheriff court was in 2001."

Mr Tod added: "He has been diagnosed with a heart condition.

"Both men are of an age where they simply should have known better."

Sheriff Daniel Kelly fined McCluskey, of Garvald Street, Greenock, £210.