TROUBLE flared after an Ipswich man was ordered leave a nightclub just as he thought he had hit a winning streak on a fruit machine, a court heard.Roger Norman, of Beaconsfield Road, was asked to leave the XS nightclub, in Chevalier Street, Ipswich, by doormen at around 2.

TROUBLE flared after an Ipswich man was ordered leave a nightclub just as he thought he had hit a winning streak on a fruit machine, a court heard.

Roger Norman, of Beaconsfield Road, was asked to leave the XS nightclub, in Chevalier Street, Ipswich, by doormen at around 2.20am on March 1.

The 28-year-old then left the premises "under protest" but became embroiled in a shouting match with "others" in the street.

Security staff from the club attended to try and defuse the situation but Norman became abusive towards them.

He then took a swing at a member of the security staff, at which point he was wrestled to the ground by two doormen.

A small bladed object that had been concealed in the palm of Norman's hand was seized and the police were called.

The "derisory comments" continued and some were directed at a black doorman, who had apprehended Norman.

Appearing at South East Suffolk Magistrates' court, Norman pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article, threatening and abusive behaviour and racially aggravated disorderly conduct.

Mitigating, Hugh Rowland said Norman thought he was set for a payout from the fruit machine at the time he was asked to leave the nightclub and was "annoyed" by this.

He had been celebrating his birthday on the night in question and had been drinking.

The bladed article – a craft knife – was used by Norman for his job and had been in his pocket since he finished work the previous day, he added.

Bench chairwoman Fennella Blastland sentenced Norman to a 90-hour community punishment order and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £55.