Off-duty doorman broke man's jaw in attack outside After Dark nightclub in Wakefield city centre

Former soldier Jordan Hardaker was captured on CCTV throwing a punch at the man outside the After Dark club, Westgate, in the early hours of January 15 last year.

The 27-year-old was given a suspended prison sentence at Leeds Crown Court after pleading guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Footage of the attack was played in court and showed Hardaker outside the club at around 1.20am and a man approaching him.

They spoke before Hardaker slapped the victim with his left hand then punched him with his right hand.

They both ended up on the floor before being separated.

The victim went to Pinderfields Hospital where it was found he had sustained a fractured lower jaw.

He did not require surgery but had to endure a liquid diet for eight weeks after the attack.

A probation officer told the court Hardaker had been drinking all day and was very drunk.

The father-of-three had been in the army but now works as a driver through the week and as a doorman at weekends.

He was suspended from the door job because of this incident.

Joanne Shepherd, mitigating, said: "He has been hard working throughout his life and held down two jobs prior to this offence.

"He is deeply ashamed of his behaviour and all the years he has been working as a doorman he has never been involved in anything of this order."

The court heard how the victim was being verbally abusive towards Hardaker and the door staff at the club moments before the attack, but Judge Penelope Belcher said: "Verbal abuse cannot begin to justify your actions.

"Clearly there was conversation taking place between you, there can be no other explanation for your sudden loss of temper.

"As a doorman you should have been able to deal with this. You will know from your job that drink removes people's inhibitions and results in all sorts of offences, including violence.

"You have now fallen into that very same trap.

"Had you been working as door staff that night I would have sent you straight into custody."

Hardaker, of Garsdale Avenue, Idle, Bradford, was given a 12 months sentence, suspended for two years, and told to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.