A club doorman who had already been released under investigation for drug offences punched a man in an “entirely unnecessary act of violence”.
Joshua Bourne, 32, was working on the doors at a club in Leigh when he punched the man hard in the face on the night of August 21 last year.
Bolton Crown Court heard how the man had apparently been involved in an “altercation” with other staff before Bourne decided to lash out at him, an incident caught on CCTV.
Katy Laverty, prosecuting, said: “In short, it shows that once the complainant has been ejected from the premises, the defendant walks up and delivers a punch.”
The injured man was taken first to Royal Bolton Hospital and then Royal Blackburn where although no evidence of a fracture was found the man was told he would need to live off soft foods for up to two weeks.
Ms Laverty told the court that the victim had been left feeling “anxious, angry and upset” after the attack.
But she added that Bourne, who has 11 previous convictions for 19 offences, had already been released under investigation.
This was after police found 15 snap bags of cocaine when they arrested him at his home on Ludlow Drive, Leigh, on June 28 that same year in relation to an unrelated matter.
Though they did not have the evidence to prosecute him for dealing, Bourne pleaded guilty to possession of Class A drugs when brought before the magistrates.
He said: “It was an entirely unnecessary act of violence, and it is apparent from watching the CCTV that it was a punch with some force behind it.”
He added: “It was a very unpleasant piece of aggressive thuggery for you to punch this man.”
Judge Gilbart sentenced Bourne to 25 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months and ordered him to complete 12 rehabilitation activity requirement days with 200 hours of unpaid work.
He also ordered the defendant to complete a mental health treatment programme, a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement and to pay £600 in compensation to his victim.
Source – Bolton News