BOUNCER JAILED FOR JAW-BREAK.

Byline: GARETH LIGHTFOOT

A FORMER doorman who caused a man permanent injury in an assault at a Teesside bar has been jailed.

Archie Little's valuable voluntary work and the apparent good will of his victim did not save him from prison.

He was a barman at Union Jaxx on Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough when he challenged bar regular Mark Wilson.

He struck Mr Wilson several times in the face, knocking him to the floor, then grabbed his throat and hit him again, said prosecutor Jolyon Perks.

Mr Wilson's jaw was fractured, leaving him with long-term problems like loss of sensation, dental pain and nerve damage, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Little also assaulted landlord Stephen

Gavin, pulling his jumper over his head and scratching his arm.

The assault was said variously to be over Little thinking he was suspected of thefts from the bar, or his concerns over people being thrown out.

Little, 39, of Saltersgill Avenue, Middlesbrough, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm and common assault from December 14 last year.

He had a previous assault on his record 10 years ago when he was a doorman in Yarm.

Peter Johnson, defending, said Little acted in a state of "heightened anxieties" and regretted what he did.

He said there was friendly contact since with Mr Wilson, who wished Little luck for his sentencing saying he had "fingers crossed" for him.

He added Little had severed all ties with door supervising business. He rid himself of drugs problems, rebuilt his life and did good work for the public over the years.

Physiotherapist Carol Kraus, who works for local charity Breakaway helping young disabled people, the terminally ill and people with muscular dystrophy, said Little was one of their best volunteers.

She said she never saw him lose his temper or become frustrated, adding: "I honestly don't know what we would do without people like Mr Little." Judge John Walford told Little he had a lot to offer and gave his time and energies to help deprived and vulnerable people, but lost his temper in a public place that night.

The judge said he had a wider public duty, Little had caused a man permanent injury and he could not overlook the seriousness of that. He jailed Little for nine months..