A man was lured to a west Cumbrian home where he was subjected to a brutal 40-minute gang attack.

The thug who both started and finished the assault appeared in court, where he was spared prison.

Unsuspecting victim Derek Yule was left battered and bloodied after being summoned to a house in Workington in August last year.

Only one of several people responsible for delivering the sickening beating was brought to justice.

While charges were dropped against other suspects, 36-year-old Neil Ivison appeared in the dock at Carlisle Crown Court.

He was sentenced having admitted assaulting Mr Yule, causing him actual bodily harm.

Prosecutor Brendan Burke said the victim had been in Maryport where he fielded numerous frantic phone calls. He was asked to "urgently" attend an address in Workington to console a female.

"It wasn't long before this defendant and other males arrived. They said to Mr Yule 'you are not leaving here until this is sorted out'.

"Quite what 'this' is, the Crown is unclear about," said Mr Burke.

"This defendant began the violence by punching Mr Yule on the nose. There then followed, on Mr Yule's guess, 40 minutes of violence. Others were punching him.

"He, at some stage, was stamped on. Indeed a doctor later, on examining him, saw a shoe impression on his shoulder blade. Every time he went to leave, one or other of the males would hit him again."

It was accepted that no stamping was done by Ivison, but, having delivered the first punch, he also delivered the final punch before the victim was allowed to leave.

Mr Yule attended hospital where he was found to have a fractured rib and "bruising around the body".

Ivison made an "absolute denial" when quizzed by police but eventually pleading guilty on the day he was due to stand trial.

Kim Whittestone, defending, said: "It appears to have been a culmination of incidents that occurred, frustrations that were certainly felt as far as this defendant was concerned, and a feeling that he had been wronged by Mr Yule.

"It appears the complainant had been causing trouble between the defendant and his current partner."

Ivison, of Hunday Court, Workington, was said to be making "positive strides" as he attempted to put previous problems behind him.

"He will not repeat this offending behaviour," Miss Whittlestone added.

Ivison avoided prison after Judge Barbara Forrester read a report which concluded that probation staff could work with him in the community.

A 16-month prison term was suspended for two years and he must complete a four-month nightly curfew and a rehabilitation requirement.

But Judge Forrester was scathing of the plot that had been hatched and Ivison's role.

"You were a group of offenders on to one," the judge told him.