A DRUNKEN Ipswich man who hit a nightclub manager in the face because he wouldn't let him enter his premises has been banned from entering the club.Benjamin Allen, who owns an independent record shop, had pleaded guilty to the charge of assault by beating at a court hearing in early November.

By Nick Richards

A DRUNKEN Ipswich man who hit a nightclub manager in the face because he wouldn't let him enter his premises has been banned from entering the club.

Benjamin Allen, who owns an independent record shop, had pleaded guilty to the charge of assault by beating at a court hearing in early November.

In addition to a three-month ban from entering Liquid in Cardinal Park, Allen was also handed a 40-hour community punishment order.

South East Suffolk Magistrates Court had previously heard that Allen, of Elm Street, Ipswich, had hit Liquid manager Darren Guyon after a disagreement outside the nightspot on September 13.

Allen, 23, had been enjoying a night out celebrating a friend's birthday when evening turned sour outside the club.

Staff had stopped him from entering the club and it was then that the offence occurred.

In his last court appearance, Allen admitted that he had slapped Mr Guyon in one incident but he did not recall punching him in the incident.

Mr Guyon suffered a superficial injury to the chin from the attack, while Mr Allen required hospital treatment after being restrained by bouncers.

At the previous hearing, Anne Parry, chairwoman of the bench told Allen:

"Aggravating features are that it was an assault on someone in authority who was serving the public. It was also fuelled by alcohol."

She added that a mitigating feature was that there was only one blow involved.