A 'public spirited' motorist, who was attacked when he went to help a woman he saw being assaulted by her partner, has been praised by a judge for his bravery.

David Lister intervened when he saw Ronald Hall, 58, assaulting his partner, as the couple were driving near Wymondham, Norwich Crown Court heard.

John Morgans, prosecuting, said Hall was seen driving erratically and fighting with his partner, who was a passenger in his car. Mr Morgans said that when Hall stopped his car, Mr Lister also pulled up and went to offer his help to the woman, but was grabbed by the throat by Hall, who punched him in the face.

Hall, of Common Road, Fundenhall, admitted causing actual bodily harm to Mr Lister and also admitted common assault on his partner and driving with excess aclohol on September 12, this year. Hall was found to have 55 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes. Jailing Hall for 12 months and banning him from driving for 35 months, Judge Katharine Moore praised Mr Lister for his actions.