TWO FORMER door staff have been given suspended sentences and community service orders after admitting violent offences outside a nightclub where they worked.

Paul Dixon, 46, of Harwich Road, Colchester, and Edward West, 35, of Perryfield, Braintree, were accused of assaulting two people they ejected from Chicago’s nightclub in Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, on March 20, 2014.

Both men admitted the charges before the case went to trial.

On the night in question, Ben Venables and Tyrell Braithwaite were ejected from Chicago’s by the defendants at around 1am.

Upon ejection from the club, Mr Venables was punched in the face by West, knocking him to the ground,where West continued to punch him, leaving him with cuts and swelling to his face.

Outside the club Dixon punched Mr Braithwaite in the face, then kicking him repeatedly on the ground, leaving him with a dislocated left ankle and a fractured fibula.

An independent witness saw the events taking place.

Dixon admitted causing grievous bodily harm without intent and Mr West admitted causing actual bodily harm.

West, who has a previously conviction for assaulting a police officer in 2007, had entered a written guilty plea to the charge in May 2015.

Both men lost their security industry licenses and jobs after the event.

In his summing up Judge David Turner said: “Each of you acted in defiance of all your training and certainly in breach of the code of conduct.

“This was an ugly, unnecessary, and excessive over reaction by two people who should have known better.

“You both lost it and over reacted shamefully, but I do not think that is your normal means of dealing with things.”

West was given an eight month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work to benefit the community.

Dixon received a 15 month prison sentence, suspended for two years and was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work to benefit the community.

Both men were ordered to pay court costs of £1,000 towards the defence.

No claim for compensation was made by the victims.