A £28,000-a-year transport manager knocked a man unconscious in a Worcester fast-food restaurant after drinking up to eight vodka and cokes.

Dominic Pearce lashed out at Adam James then broke the finger of Christopher Andrews, a doorman at Chicks in The Cross, as he tried to restrain him.

A CCTV film of the incident on February 19 was played at Worcester Crown Court before Pearce, aged 45, of Kenwood Avenue, Worcester, was sentenced.

It showed him talking to a 17-year-old friend of his son’s, before suddenly punching Mr James in the face as he sat at a nearby table.

Mr James woke up in hospital and needed five stitches in a head wound. He also suffered a broken tooth which needed dental treatment costing £204, said Charles Hardy, prosecuting.

Recorder Satinder Hunjan said Pearce, who had no previous convictions, was a hard-working man who had struck out after a verbal exchange.

He noted from the CCTV that Mr James was “also the worse for drink” but said Pearce had inflicted a significant injury with his first blow.

He sentenced Pearce to 36 weeks’ jail, suspended for 18 months, with 120 hours of unpaid community work.

Pearce was also ordered to pay compensation of £750 to Mr James and £250 to Mr Andrews and pay £340 court costs. He admitted two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Worcester Crown Court was told that Mr James and his friend Oliver Brown had spent the night in city centre clubs before ending up at Chicks at about 2am.

Mr James was left slumped unconscious on the floor of the restaurant covered in blood. Mr Hardy said Pearce had asked the victim why he kept looking at him before the attack.

Pearce told police he was angered by comments made to him but expressed immediate remorse for his behaviour.

Defending, Judith Kenney said the offence only lasted 90 seconds and was out of character.

Pearce was the sole carer for his mother and the financial provider for his ex-wife and 17-year-old son.