A MAN assaulted two female bar workers after a 'mass punch-up' broke out in a venue, a court heard.

Magistrates were told Ben Dixon was trying to escape a skirmish at The Knights bar in Barrow town centre when he jumped over the bar.

The 21-year-old became involved in a tussle with two members of staff after fleeing from a fight involving a group of men in the bar, the court was told.

He pushed one of the workers and moved to grab the throat of the other, the court heard. 

Appearing at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court, Dixon admitted assaulting the two victims following the incident on November 19.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre said: "The defendant was in The Knights on Dalkeith Street.

"A fight broke out between a group of males.

"The defendant jumped over the bar and pushed a member of the bar staff.

"He pushed past and attempted to grab the throat of one of the other bar staff."

Dixon had previous convictions, the court heard.

Explaining the incident, Karen Templeton said in mitigation: "There was some kind of mass punch-up and he was trying to get away.

"He got over the bar and tried to run along the bar and get out.

"He pushed past the first female member of staff and the second one was restraining him, she had seen what had happened to her colleague.

"She pinned him to the bar and he tried to push her out of the way.

"He wasn't trying to grab her throat."

She told the court Dixon said the bar worker had hold of him and was trying to grab her arm.

"He's sorry about what's happened, he's never been in trouble before," said Ms Templeton.

The court heard neither of the women sustained injuries.

Sentencing Dixon, of Barrow's Provincial Street, magistrates fined him £100 for the assault on the first victim and £80 for the assault on the second.