Ricky Quinlan, 34, had been sentenced to at least six-months behind bars in Armidale Local Court last month.

He had pleaded guilty to charges of affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company for his role in the incident.

But Quinlan appealed against the severity of his punishment in the district court last Tuesday, with his defence arguing his sentence was harsher than one of the other co-offenders.

On January 3 the mob taunted a man outside his unit as part of a continuing family feud.

The victim was then chased by the mob for about 10 minutes when he finally ended up on the Niagara Street bike path.

Craig Waters, who was also jailed for his role in the attack, punched the victim to the ground.

Fellow co-accused Grace Ward then struck the victim up to three times with a metal tent pole, before Quinlan stopped her.

The victim was treated in Armidale hospital for cuts and bruises to his face and body.

Giving evidence to Judge Clive Jeffreys, Quinlan said he tried to protect the victim from Ward when the man misunderstood his intentions and lashed out at him.

“I saw [Ward] with an iron object … I saw in her eyes she was there for the kill and she hit him about three times.

“I pulled her away and thought he was unconscious,” Quinlan said.

He said he then tried to help the man up when the victim started to hit Quinlan.

“I told him I was there to help him and hit him on the forearm.”

Ward had her 12-month sentence fully suspended for assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company and armed with intent to commit an indictable offence.

Quinlan’s defence solicitor Peter Kemp said the sentences should have been similar as his client had protected the victim from being attacked by Ward.

Judge Jeffreys decided uphold the appeal and release Quinlan on a suspended sentence for 11 months.

“Taking into account his last offence for violence was seven years ago and nine years ago and he was using the drug ice at the time, it is my view to consider parity as appropriate to the appeal,” Judge Jeffreys said.

Quinlan had been remanded in custody after being released after his bail was refused for a separate driving matter in the local court the following Wednesday.

He had driven while he was disqualified on September 19, 2013 and convicted in his absence on February 19.

For that offence he was fined $300, placed on a 12 month good behaviour bond and disqualified from driving for two years.

He was released from jail last Wednesday.