Port Talbot,South Wales - Manager of clothes shop who acted like a "drunken clown" and punched a bouncer has avoided jail

Thomas Baker was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court

THE manager of a clothes shop who acted like a "drunken clown" on a night out and punched a bouncer on the face — while on a suspended sentence for previous assault — has avoided jail.

Thomas Baker became involved in a disturbance in the Back2Mine nightclub in Port Talbot in the early hours of Christmas morning, and when a member of club security tried to intervene he lashed out and hit the bouncer on the nose, causing it to bleed.

Swansea Crown Court heard that police were called and Baker was ejected from the club — once outside his behaviour was described as "drunk and aggressive" as he shouted at officers and door staff.

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He was subsequently arrested.

Baker, of Wern Road, Margam, had previously pleaded guilty to battery on a basis — that he had intended to punch the person the bouncer had in a neck lock rather than the bouncer himself — when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.

Catherine Richards, for the prosecution, said the 25-year-old — who works as a manger at the Profile fashion store in Bridgend — was subject to a suspended prison sentence for a previous assault when he carried out the Christmas Day attack.

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Judge Paul Thomas QC said he had been the judge who had imposed the previous suspended sentence on Baker, and that the defendant had been lucky to avoid prison on that occasion.

The judge said the Baker had acted like a "drunken clown" in the club, and needed to grow up.

He fined Baker £500 for breaching the suspended sentence and imposed a 12 month community order with a two month 8pm to 6am curfew for the battery.

The judge told him: "You seem to be doing everything you can to be sent to prison — it is time to grow up.

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"Put simply, if you can't handle alcohol don't touch it.

"The curfew will allow you to continue your work but keep you away from nights out on the pop."

He added: "If you breach this order, there will be no third chance."

Read more: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Manager-clothes-shop-acted-like-drunken-clown/story-29188891-detail/story.html#ixzz47KztnWD5 
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