AN ex-soldier and his nephew injured doorstaff during an attack outside a Worcestershire nightclub.

The fight outside Marilyns night club in Evesham began when two men were ejected from the club by a side door.

Ex-serviceman Jason Smith, aged 26, and his nephew, farm labourer Dominic Russell, aged 19, both of Badsey Road, Willersey, near Broadway, both admitted identical charges of affray (threats of unlawful violence) and assault by beating when they appeared before magistrates in Worcester.

The attack on Friday, May 13, was recorded on CCTV and it showed Smith being ejected from the club followed by Russell as blows were thrown at staff.

The violence then continued at the side and front of the club.

Liam Finch, prosecuting, drew a distinction between the actions of Smith and Russell, who took more of a “back seat” in the assault.

However, when the incident moved to the front of the club Russell could be seen throwing punches at Richard Ashmead, who suffered reddening to his left cheek and a small abrasion to his bottom lip.

Mr Finch said Richard Ding, a doorman attacked by Smith, was punched and kicked and had “various lumps and bruises on his head and blood in his mouth”.

The fight came to an end when staff closed the front door of the nightclub, although Smith could be seen on CCTV trying to drag the door open.

Mr Finch said Smith, who has no previous convictions, was “disarmingly frank” when being interviewed by police and told officers he had drunk a considerable amount of alcohol and that his behaviour was “out of character”.

Jason Patel, defending Smith, who had been in the Army for a year two years ago but was declared not fit to serve because of knee problems, had split up with his partner that day.

Mr Patel said: “Having seen the CCTV he’s deeply ashamed of his actions and shows genuine regret and remorse for what happened that evening.”

Mark Lister, defending Russell, said: “It was clearly a disgraceful incident. He accepts that. His part in the incident as a whole was less than Smith’s.”

Both men were sentenced to 12-month community orders.

Smith was ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid work and Russell 80 hours.

Smith was placed on an electronically tagged daily curfew between 8pm and 6am.

Both were ordered to pay £150 compensation each – Smith to Mr Ding and Russell to Mr Ashmead.

Smith was ordered to make a £50 contribution to costs and Russell a £35 contribution.