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Jail for Leeds bouncer who hit customer in face
A bouncer who punched a man in the face while on bail over accusations that he glassed a customer in a Leeds strip club has been jailed.
Paul Bartley, 35, of Plumpton Street, Darnley, Wakefield, is a former firefighter who also served with the Junior Parachute Regiment and the TA, Leeds Crown Court heard.
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Geraldine Kelly, prosecuting, said he was working as a doorman at the Mission nightclub in Leeds on August 15 last year when he threw Nicholas Brenton out of the premises.
The dad-of-one then punched Mr Brenton in the face, knocking him into a barrier and causing a lip and chin injury which required 15 stitches.
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At the time, Bartley was on bail over an incident during a night out at the Red Leopard Club, Leeds, on November 15, 2008, in which he threw a champagne glass at another customer, Philip Whitehouse. The glass shattered in Mr Whitehouse's face, causing an eye injury, the court heard.
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Jailing him for 18 months, Mr Recorder Iqbal said Bartley had "glowing references" from former employers including Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, where he received a commendation, as well as from West Yorkshire Police and current employers at the City Inn Hotel in Leeds.
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Referring to the first incident, he said: "The glass having smashed, it caused a multi-layered deep cut below the right eye which required treatment by surgeons.
"You didn't stay to offer your assistance or to apologise. You ran from the club, got in your car, did not turn the lights on and drove away."
Speaking about the second incident, he added: "The gentleman did not deserve that treatment. There was no provocation from him to you; there was no aggressive behaviour from him to you. You simply lost your temper."
Bartley went on trial last month over the incident in November 2008, where he denied Section 20 wounding with intent to cause grevous bodily harm .
He was acquitted of the charge but convicted of Section 20 wounding by the jury at Leeds Crown Court.
Following this conviction, he pleaded guilty to another count of Section 20 wounding over the incident in August, for which he was due to go on trial next month.
Christopher Dunn, mitigating, said Bartley had "difficulty with his temper", partly due to steroid use and "getting in with doormen", with whom he completed daytime training sessions.
He said: "His behaviour is not representative of Paul Bartley, a man who was prepared for 10 years to put his life on the line as a fireman and was prepared in the early part of his life to put his life on the line for the country as a volunteer reservist.
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
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Wind direction: South east
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Light rain
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