A doorman who punched a nightclubber in the face has been ordered to pay his victim £2,000 compensation.

Bradford Crown Court heard today that most of the money would be needed to pay for the dental work Lee Waters still required after he was injured by 40-year-old Christopher Harbon during an incident at the Acapulco night spot in Halifax last October.

Harbon, who has been a doorman for ten years and had no previous convictions, admitted a charge of assault last month and today he was sentenced to six months in jail suspended for a year.

Prosecutor John Bull told the court that door staff at the club had been trying to deal with those responsible for an earlier incident when a pepper spray had been used.

Harbon, of Northern Close, Bradford, and Mr Waters both went to the floor. Mr Bull said the defendant "lost control'' and punched the complainant three or four times in the face.

The court heard that the dental work could cost about £1,800 and that following the incident Mr Waters had to eat liquid food through a straw.

In a victim impact statement he said his confidence had been sapped by what happened and he had lost faith in doormen who were supposed to protect customers rather than injure them.

Harbon was told by Judge Peter Benson that the nature of the injuries suffered could well warrant a sentence of imprisonment, but after taking account his guilty plea and previous good character he proposed to suspend the jail term.

The judge noted that Harbon had worked as a doorman for ten years without being involved in any trouble, but he said he had reacted in a wholly inappropriate and uncontrolled manner during the incident last October.

Harbon will have to pay the £2,000 compensation within six months.