A DRINKER who grabbed a doorman from behind and bit him on the nose has been ordered to pay him £350 compensation.

He has also been banned from the bar where the victim works for 12 months.

Simon Ostler, prosecuting, said the victim had no warning of Joseph James Broughton's attack in Back Swinegate.

In his police statement, the doorman said: “I was extremely scared and horrified by what was happening. I couldn’t understand why he was doing this to me. I never had any argument with him,” York Magistrates Court heard.

For Broughton, Adam Henry said his girlfriend used to work at the bar. She had told him that she had left the job after an altercation with the doorman regarding whether or not she had reserved a seat to sit down on during a work break.

On a night out with friends, Broughton had seen the doorman and had “approached him in order to try and raise the issue”, said the defence solicitor.

But, said Mr Henry, the doorman had ignored Broughton and that had provoked the 24-year-old to attack him.

Broughton, 24, of Penleys Grove Street, The Groves, York, pleaded guilty to assault.

He was ordered to do 150 hours’ unpaid work, banned from the doorman's bar for 12 months, ordered to pay him £350 compensation and £85 prosecution costs.

Mr Ostler said the bite left marks on the doorman’s nose and Broughton was in drink at the time.

District judge Adrian Lower told Broughton: “You used your teeth as a weapon on a man in the course of his work. This was an anti-social act.

“I only hope you have learnt from your time at the police station and your time here there are far better ways of resolving problems that by resorting to violence.”

Mr Henry said the attack had been out of character.