A Suffolk father who assaulted a door supervisor at a nightclub will be spending Christmas behind bars after a judge jailed him for 15 months.

East Anglian Daily Times: The incident took part at Bar Vu, which is off the High Street in Haverhill. Picture: PHIL MORLEYThe incident took part at Bar Vu, which is off the High Street in Haverhill. Picture: PHIL MORLEY (Image: Archant)

Jesse Baker became upset when Karl Timmins refused to let him into Bar Vu nightclub in Haverhill in June and took it as a “personal slight”, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Mr Timmins was working at the front door monitoring customers entering the premises when he recognised Baker as someone who had been refused entry before because of his behaviour, said Michael Crimp, prosecuting.

He told Baker he couldn’t come in and the defendant had started to become aggressive and refused to leave the queue of customers waiting to enter the club.

Baker lunged at Mr Timmins and he responded by pushing Baker back, said Mr Crimp.

Baker started swinging punches which Mr Timmins managed to dodge.

Mr Timmins tried to use a restraint technique on Baker but then felt a pain in his left leg and discovered his knee was twisted and out of shape.

He fell to the ground and witnesses stepped in to stop Baker from assaulting him further while he was on the ground.

Mr Timmins was taken to hospital and was found to have a displaced kneecap.

After his arrest Baker admitted swinging punches at Mr Timmins and said he had felt “picked on” when he was refused entry to the club.

He said he was “six out of 10” drunk and was ashamed and embarrassed about his behaviour.

Baker, 27 and of Exeter Court, Haverhill, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Timmins.

Jailing Baker for 15 months Judge John Devaux said the incident was too serious for him to pass anything other than an immediate prison sentence.

Matthew Sorel-Cameron, representing Baker, said his client, who had formerly worked at the club, had no previous convictions and had been diagnosed with high functioning autism. He said this led to him to misinterpret situations and overreact but he accepted this was no excuse for what he did.

He said Baker had felt “slighted and belittled” when he was turned away from the club.

He said Baker, who is married with children, was in full time work and was “appalled “ by his behaviour.