The manager of a popular Sydney pub who was charged with affray after a female patron refused to put on a shirt before throwing a glass, spitting and tossing a pot plant at him has had his case dismissed.

But now Chayapon Chawwung faces a legal battle to resume working at The George Hotel in Waterloo after police had his responsible service of alcohol licence suspended, the Downing Centre Local Court was told this week.

The 42-year-old bar manager had one count of affray and common assault dismissed on November 13 after Magistrate Miranda Moody ruled that he was acting in self defence inside the pub on January 22 with an unruly patron.

Mr Chawwung’s prominent lawyer Paul McGirr said his client had not been able to work and was now making representations to the NSW Police to have the suspension overturned.

“Hopefully common sense — which sadly isn’t that common — prevails and he can get back to work,” Mr McGirr said.

The court heard Mr Chawwung became embroiled in a physical standoff with alcohol-affected patron Ayshe Sanli, 42, who refused to leave the pub after becoming loud and abusive, and refused to put on a shirt over her sports bra.

She then tried to play a poker machine and became abusive, resulting in staff switching off the poker machine.

The court heard she then went behind the bar, spat at Mr Chawwung and slapped him in the face before being ejected by security.

The court also heard the woman returned to the pub and slapped Mr Chawwung again before throwing a bottle at him. She then picked up a pot plant and threw it, smashing it behind the bar.

The woman then told Mr Chawwung that she wasn’t scared of him and would smash him as she’d been to prison, the court heard.

Mr Chawwung threw three punches at Ms Sanli and called the police, and they arrested the woman and charged her with common assault, the court heard.

But they also charged the bar manager after interviewing Ms Sanli and concluding it was excessive self-defence, court documents said.

In court, Mr McGirr told the magistrate his client had no choice but to stay in the pub and defend himself and the hotel, otherwise he would have been in breach of his licence if he left.

Magistrate Moody agreed and dismissed the charge and told the court Mr Chawwung was acting in self defence under “extreme provocation” from Ms Sanli.