A GOOD Samaritan was attacked with a metal pole after going to the aid of a woman in distress, Lincoln Crown Court was told.
Matthew Moss, 26, was walking through Louth in the early hours looking for food after leaving Samuel's Bar.
Andrew Scott, prosecuting, said that Mr Moss, his sister and her partner were in Newmarket when they noticed a couple arguing outside a petrol station.
The woman was left crying and Mr Moss went to her assistance.
But as he asked how she was she responded by headbutting him. Moments later Byron Toyne, who had been arguing with the woman, appeared armed with the metal pole.
Toyne swung the pole hitting Mr Moss in the face, causing him to fall onto a parked car, and then struck a second blow before running off.
Mr Moss suffered cuts and bruises to his face and was taken to the Diana, Princess Of Wales Hospital, where he received treatment.
When he was arrested Toyne denied he was involved and claimed he was in bed at the time.
In court, Toyne, 28, of Guildford Street, Grimsby, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm as a result of the incident on 31 May 2010.
He was jailed for 15 months.
Judge Michael Heath told him: "This was an entirely unprovoked assault committed at night time in Louth town centre and committed with a weapon. The only sentence I can justify for an offence of this type is custody."
Liz Harte, defending, said Toyne was only charged in July 2011 and has since spent almost two years on a night-time curfew while on bail awaiting his court appearance.
She said he had not committed any further offences during that time.
She said: "He has shown he is capable of keeping out of trouble."