A judge told a bouncer who repeatedly punched a man in the head outside of a Carlisle nightclub causing him serious injuries: He should've been protected not assaulted.

Thomas Hill, 26, was caught on CCTV assaulting Philip Gibson outside Concrete, in Lowther Street, on New Year's Day.

Hill said he'd been trying to protect himself and others after a scuffle a scuffle broke out in the early hours of the morning.

But Carlisle Crown Court heard it was Mr Gibson who had been set upon outside the club after being ejected from Concerete for complaining to a bouncer that he'd been slapped in the face by a man.

To Mr Gibson's surprise he was asked to leave the club alongside the man who'd earlier attacked him.

Beccy McGregor, prosecuting, said: "As he [Mr Gibson] made his way out he was attacked by this male."

CCTV played to Carlisle Crown Court yesterday showed Hill come up the stairs from the club to Lowther Street where he witnessed the attack taking place.

Hill, along with other bouncers working for the club, moved over to intervene.

But it was Mr Gibson, rather than the other attackers, that Hill moved in on and he was struck three times by the bouncer.

Lauren Walker witnessed the assault as she was outside the club sitting on a wall at the time.

Reading out Ms Walker's witness statement, Ms McGregor told the court: "She saw the defendant... strike what she describes as three very hard punches to his face.

"He seemed to be pumped up and ready for another go. She was shocked by his behaviour."

Mr Gibson was taken to Carlisle' Cumberland Infirmary for treatment for a cut to his eye, a puncture wound to his right eye which was completed closed and there was swelling to an area of his skull.

His face was so bruised Mr Gibson felt unable to leave the house and his eye was closed for a week. He also had to take a month off work.

"He was too frightened to go into city centre bars with his friends," Ms McGregor added.

The court heard how Mr Gibson has been left with permanent scar because of the attack and it has affected his confidence.

Hill, of Warwick Road, Carlisle, pleaded not guilty to a charge of wounding, inflicting grievous bodily harm but was convicted following a trial last month at the city's magistrates' court.

Speaking on Hill's behalf, his lawyer Janet Ironfield, said her client had shown remorse for the injuries sustained by Mr Gibson.

Recorder Philip Curran decided not send Hill to prison immediately, instead suspending the 15-month jail term for 18 months.

The judge said: "You behaved really quite badly on that night."

He continued: "I've watched the video, Mr Gibson was entirely innocent party in all of this.

"He should've been protected by the club and its officials, instead they turfed him outside.

"Even if you thought he'd been involved in a fight you had no authority to smash somebody in the face like this."

Recorder Curran told Hill that while he would not be going to prison, he had lost his good character.

Hill was also ordered to pay the victim £2,000 in compensation.