A SELF-employed businessman broke a pub customer's nose after accusing him of chatting up his wife.

Worcester Crown Court heard that Michael Oldham, whose second marriage was on the rocks at the time, flew into a rage.

The victim, Ian Mowdsley, was knocked to the ground outside the Bowling Green pub in Hereford.

He felt a tap on the shoulder as he was smoking a cigarette before he was attacked.

The punch left his nose misaligned, causing breathing difficulties, said Nick Berry, prosecuting.

Oldham, aged 39, of Whitefriars Road, Belmont, Hereford, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm. He was jailed for six months Police arrested the defendant in the street on November 25 last year. He told officers he was "defending his wife's honour".

Oldham had six previous convictions for assault and one for battery.

Charles Hamer, defending, said Oldham's marriage had been a disaster from start to finish. He was suffering from depression and also had an alcohol problem.

Mr Hamer said the assault was spontaneous, not premeditated, after he believed his wife had the attention of another man.

Judge Alistair McCreath said: "There was no justification for this at all. You took offence to a man talking to your partner. That sort of violence can only have one outcome."