A MAN has been banned from the Ikon and Diva nightclub and ordered to pay compensation for attacking the man who pushed his five-month pregnant girlfriend.

Steven Ovenden, prosecuting at York Magistrates Court, said that Paul David Lomax, 19, punched Barry Pickard four times in the face at the Clifton Moor venue shortly before midnight on Friday.

Mr Pickard had been about to leave the nightclub after an evening out.

Jobless Lomax, of Middleham Avenue, off Huntington Road, York, pleaded guilty to assault.

He was ordered to do 100 hours' community punishment and pay Mr Pickard £100 compensation. He was also banned from the nightclub for nine months.

District judge Victoria Rose told him: "Violence in public order situations in licensed premises is a particular problem in this city."

Jeremy Scott, for the boyfriend, said Mr Pickard and a friend laughed at Lomax. Although Lomax ignored it, his girlfriend asked what they were laughing about and Mr Pickard pushed her. Lomax lost his temper because she was five months pregnant.

Mr Ovenden said both Lomax and Mr Pickard were ejected from the nightclub. Mr Pickard had swelling to his cheek and jaw on the left side of his face. He also had a painful swelling near his right eye which he could hardly open.

"Some of the injuries may have resulted from the door staff during the eviction," said Mr Ovenden.

Mr Scott said that Lomax had only hit the left side of Mr Pickard's face and had not caused the other injuries.

Updated: 11:09 Thursday, November 04, 2004