A MAN who head-butted a fellow clubber during a night out in Bowness has been sentenced to 90 hours of unpaid work.

Matthew Christopher Nield, 33, of Old Hall Road, Troutbeck Bridge, Windermere, assaulted and caused actual bodily harm to Thomas Steele at the Wheelhouse nightclub on July 5.

Lisa O’Loughlin, prosecuting, said the victim had been waiting behind Nield at the bar and had been knocked into him by the crowds of people waiting to get served.

She said Nield had become increasingly angry, adding: “Mr Steele told the defendant he couldn’t help it. He then felt a sharp blow to the left hand side of his head. It happened so fast he did not know what had hit him.”

Mitigating, Nick Renshaw said Nield, a part-time care worker and self-employed savings instructor, had been repeatedly jostled by Mr Steele and felt threatened by the taller man.

He said Nield had made a mistake born from drinking too much alcohol, adding: “He realised immediately what he had done and regretted it.”

As well as being sentenced to unpaid work, magistrates in Kendal ordered Nield to pay £100 compensation to Mr Steele and court costs of £60.