Punched doorman's tooth out

Published on 25th October 2007 in News

A Goole father who punched out a doorman's tooth after being refused entry to a nightclub has been ordered to pay £750 in compensation.

Jamie Jackson (19), of Adeline Street, appeared at Goole Magistrates' Court on Tuesday and admitted assault occasioning actually bodily harm.

Julie Laverack Glanville, for the Crown Prosecution Service, told the court that the victim had been at work at Vision nightclub in Mariner's Street, on September 9.

"At 12.05am there were some 60 people in the nightclub queue, outside on the street," she said.

"The doorman noticed a male whom he knew to be Mr Jackson."

Mrs Laverack Glanville said that the defendant was seen to be involved in a small disturbance with another man in the queue and was refused entry because of it.

"Mr Jackson became verbally abusive."

Mrs Laverack Glanville said that Mr Jackson then punched the doorman, without provocation and with enough force to cause him to hit his shoulder against the wall.

The punch knocked out the victim's tooth, which was found on the floor, and caused his mouth to bleed. He went to hospital, where he received two stitches and had his tooth pushed back in.

"The defendant walked off,' said Mrs Laverack Glanville.

In a police interview, Mr Jackson admitted the assault and said he had been "worse for wear" after drinking.

On a scale of one to ten, he rated the force of the punch as five.

Defending, Mr Lockhart said that the "small disturbance" referred to by the prosecution occurred because a couple behind the defendant had had a domestic argument, and the man assaulted the woman.

He said that the doorman did not tell Mr Jackson he would not be allowed into the club until half an hour later, when Mr Jackson reached the front of the queue.

'He has been a regular at the club for nearly two years and has never had any problems,' said Mr Lockhart.

The solicitor also said his client's relationship with his girlfriend had broken down the day before the incident, and she had taken their young child with her.

"He knew his girlfriend would be in the club," said Mr Lockhart.

"Mr Jackson lost his temper with the doorman. He struck him once in the face with his fist."

Magistrates retired to consider Mr Jackson's sentence, and told him on their return that the assault was aggravated by three factors - the fact that he was drunk, that the attack was unprovoked and that the victim was serving the public.

They did award him credit for his early guilty plea.

Mr Jackson was ordered to pay £750 in compensation and £55 in costs. He will also be subject to a curfew order between 8pm and 6am for three months.