A MAN involved in a fight, which resulted in a bouncer being cut with an ashtray, has been ordered to carry out 125 hours unpaid work.

Doorman John Pratt was working at the Directors Arms pub, in Ripon Way, Borehamwood, when he was attacked by a customer and asked to leave the premises.

Frankie Dawson pleaded guilty to ABH and was jailed previously for eight months for assaulting Mr Pratt with the ashtray outside the pub on October 31 in 2008.

Dawson’s friend, 30-year-old Wesley Ratcliffe, joined in the attack by throwing punches at Mr Pratt.

Ratcliffe pleaded guilty to a lesser public order charge on the day of trial and appeared at St Albans Crown Court yesterday for sentencing.

Ratcliffe, of Cleveland Crescent, Borehamwood, was jailed in 1997 for 20 months for wounding for attacking someone with a glass in a Barnet pub.

Neil King prosecuting, said Ratcliffe became involved “unnecessarily” in an incident between Mr Pratt and Dawson.

Mr King said: “Mr Pratt was a part-time doorman at The Directors Arms where the defendant’s co-accused Mr Dawson was told to leave.

“Mr Dawson took badly to being asked to vacate the premises and with a plastic ashtray caused a nasty cut, and bleeding and a bloodshot eye.”

Ratcliffe became involved afterwards “throwing punches” but “few it appeared connected”, said the prosecution.

Mr King said: “He generally involved himself aggressively and unnecessarily in something the co-accused had started.

“He took part in the dispute behaving in an aggressive and violent way.”

Ratcliffe also has two previous convictions for theft.

Mr King provided the court with details of the wounding conviction in 2000 for the incident at The Old Monk public house in Barnet.

Mr King said: “Most concerning was this conviction at Harrow Crown Court.

“He was asked to leave for disorderly conduct and smashed a glass in the victim’s neck. It was a similar offence of violence in a public house.”

Probation recommended a community order for unemployed tree surgeon Ratcliffe, including 125 hours unpaid work.

Andrew Walklate, defending, was unsuccessful in an attempt to get the number of hours reduced for the father of two - citing his early guilty plea and the fact he had not committed any offences in 18 months since the incident.

Initially the defence had asked for a conditional discharge.

Judge Martin Griffith imposed a 12-month community order including the recommended 125 hours unpaid work.

He said: “You got yourself in this altercation in which a serious amount of violence was offered by your friend to this doorman.

“You saw fit to get involved and bearing in mind your previous conviction for similar I am not going to give you a conditional discharge.”

Ratcliffe was ordered to pay £100 costs.