A young dad sobbed in court as he was spared jail for punching a bouncer - leaving him with a broken jaw - for throwing him out of a pub.
Mason Prestwich, 23, attacked the unwitting doorman from behind after he had been thrown out of The Witchwood in Ashton-under-Lyne at 2am on May 4 last year.
The doorman helped colleagues eject rowdy Prestwich 'because of his behaviour', prosecutor Louise Cohen told Minshull Street Crown Court on Friday.
As his victim turned to return to the venue, Prestwich launched an 'unexpected' attack, punching him in the face from behind.
The assault was captured on pub CCTV.
Police were called and when they arrested Prestwich he said 'I'm sorry - I've been a d*** - I'm sorry' and, later, when he was interviewed he admitted he had assaulted his victim.
His victim was taken to hospital where medics found he had suffered a fractured jaw.
The doorman, in a victim impact statement read to the court, said his attacker had 'acted in a cowardly way' by punching him while his back was turned.
He was left struggling to eat, sleep and eat food, the court was told. He said he could no longer go to the gym, was off work for three weeks and struggled financially.
The court heard the victim was left permanently disfigured as his jaw-line was now out of place. Surgeons had not been able to operate as it was a 'complicated fracture'.
In a letter to the judge, Prestwich wrote that he was 'truly sorry' and that he felt 'ashamed and disgusted' when he saw the CCTV footage of his attack.
He admitted it was no example for his young son.
Prestwich wrote how 'one stupid step' could ruin his life.
Judge Sophie McKone told the defendant he had 'acted like a drunken thug'.
"And it wasn't just to (your victim). It was to those around you including, at one point your girlfriend. When the door staff reasonably tried to eject you from these premises, you punched (him). He was simply doing his job. No doubt fuelled by drink, you behaved like a drunken thug," said the judge.
Prestwich, who defended himself in court, sobbed as the judge said she had 'just drawn back' from sending him to jail.
The defendant, who had no previous convictions for violence, was handed an 18-month community order including five days of 'rehabilitation activity'. He was ordered to pay his victim £1,500 compensation and £250 prosecution costs.
He was also ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work in the community.
Prestwich, of Grasmere Close in Stalybridge, admitted GBH.
