A soldier who broke a doorman's finger after being told to "get blown up in the Gulf" has appeared in court.

Michael Taylor went berserk on hearing the remark. The 2 Para soldier had recently returned to Colchester after a tour in war-torn Iraq.

He forced the doors of the town's Chicago Rock cafe open and dragged doorman Tom Robertson out, causing him to fall to the floor, the town's magistrates heard.

The 21-year-old then kicked him to the body area before being pushed away by Jamie Taylor, also a doorman at the pub.

Taylor punched Mr Taylor to the face several times. Mr Robertson's right finger was broken in the attack and Mr Taylor suffered bruising.

Magistrates were shown CCTV footage of the brawl, in Queen Street, and described it as "horrific". Taylor, of Liverpool, could be seen laughing with a friend as they left the scene.

He admitted common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm but was spared prison because of his exemplary five-year Army career and great remorse.

Lucy Osborn, mitigating, said Taylor, of Colchester's Meeanee Barracks, was thrown out of the pub by the doorman because of an incident in which he was not involved.

"He had recently returned from Iraq where he'd had some extremely unpleasant experiences and it hit a raw nerve," she said.

"When he saw the video he was sickened by his behaviour."

The court heard Taylor had served eight months in Northern Ireland, two in Iraq, and was due to return in a month's time for a six-month tour of duty.

Magistrates ordered him to carry out 240 hours of community punishment, pay Mr Taylor £250 and Mr Robertson £700, and costs of £70.

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Published Monday, September 12, 2005

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