JAILED: Reveller who punched nightclub owner at New Year's Eve party

Tae Kwon Do blue belt Steven Delaney assaulted Jeremy Sharples, general manager of the Belfry golf course's Bel Air nightclub following a fracas at a New Year's Eve party Warwick Crown Court heard.

Mr Lal Amarasinghe, prosecuting, said that on New Year's Eve the night club held a masquerade ball party attended by around 950 people, mainly from the Birmingham area.

But just 40 minutes into the New Year there was an incident on the dance floor in which one of Delaney's friends suffered a knife wound to his arm.

Delaney, who feared the injury was worse than it was, helped his friend out of the club to get medical attention.

Mr Sharples was on duty that night, and after being toldof the stabbing and 'issues' at the front door, went to the entrance.

The court heard there was a group of men who seemed to be trying to push their way in, so he went out and ushered them away – only for that group to become involved in an argument with another group in the car park.

The 36-year-old general manager made his way back to the entrance, only to find that the doors had been locked by his security staff who were struggling with a man and a woman inside.

He then heard someone say: "He's behind you; he's got a knife".

When he turned he saw a man, not Delaney, with his hands behind his back and told him to back away.

As he stood at the door waiting for it to be opened, an arm came over his shoulder, so he turned and pushed that person away, at which point Delaney, who was also there, punched him in the face.

Almost immediately the security staff opened the door to let him in, and an ambulance was called.

Mr Sharples was bleeding from a split to his lower lip, and as he was led out to the ambulance he recognised Delaney and pointed him out to the police.

As a result of the blow Mr Sharples, who lives in Cannock, needed a total of 21 stitches to a cut to his lip and another inside his mouth.

When Delaney was interviewed following his arrest he said he had been trying to get back in after someone had identified the person responsible for stabbing his friend, and was angry about what had happened.

He said he became involved in a struggle, but could not remember punching Mr Sharples, claiming he had used the flat of his hand after the manager had pushed him.

But Mr Amarasinghe pointed out that a CCTV recording showed it was not Delaney, who trains regularly in a gym and is a Tae Kwon Do blue belt, who had been pushed.

Delaney, aged 22, of Farnborough Road, Castle Vale, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to assault, causing actual bodily harm.

Mr Devon Small, mitigating, said: "There was no premeditation; it was a spontaneous action."

Jailing Delaney, Recorder Stuart Sprawson told him he should be ' ashamed' of his behaviour.