A teenager who punched a female bouncer before throwing her around "like a rag doll" has escaped a jail sentence.

Daniel Hughes brutally attacked a doorwoman and a man while drunk at Chameleon nightclub, in Lucy Road, Southend.

Hughes, of Hilton Road, Canvey, got into the fight after a girl used her hand to push him away on the dancefloor, Southend magistrates heard.

Her boyfriend, Mark Graves, went to speak to Hughes who grabbed him in a headlock and punched him in the face several times.

When door staff intervened, Hughes, 19, punched a female member of staff on the nose and started to throw her around. He was eventually pulled off the doorwoman by other bouncers.

She suffered a swollen nose and a headache following the fracas on March 16 this year while Mr Graves suffered lumps to his head, a bruised right eye and ringing in his ears.

Defence solicitor Jane Werry said Hughes was of previous good character and was normally a quiet, hardworking man.

She added: "Mr Hughes accepts there may have been an element of pushing prior to this incident taking place and there may have been an element of provocation.

"Mr Hughes expresses deep regrets about all this and he's particularly aware his actions were not acceptable in relation to the doorwoman who was employed by the nightclub."

However, chair of the bench Mr Smith told Hughes: "This was a very nasty incident of a very serious nature.

"The court bench has had to consider extremely seriously whether or not we should impose a custodial sentence.

"We have decided to take the option in the report and we're going to make a community punishment order."

Hughes, who pleaded guilty to two charges of common assault, was ordered to serve 100 hours community service, pay £100 compensation to each of his victims and £55 costs.

Published Tuesday, May 27, 2003

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