A DRUNKEN thug has been jailed for headbutting a social club committee man who had asked him to be quiet during the bingo.

David Clarke had been celebrating a family Christening at the North Ormesby Institute and afterwards went downstairs into the bar with a group of friends, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Paul Cleasby said Clarke, 24, and his friends were “shouting and screaming” and numerous complaints were made. Committee man and Vice President of the club Jeffrey Bullock asked the group to quieten down but the defendant responded by becoming abusive, the court heard.

Mr Bullock then asked Clarke to come into the office to which he replied: “Never mind the office, we’ll take this outside”.

When he was asked to leave the premises, Clarke headbutted Mr Bullock.

A struggle then ensued in which the defendant stuck his thumb in the committee man’s eye.

Mr Bullock was treated in hospital for a fractured cheekbone.

Clarke, of Grove Road, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm.

His defence barrister Robin Turton said: “Clearly this is someone who has an underlying problem with alcohol and anger management. Despite this he has not wanted to do group work because he is a working class Cleveland lad who doesn’t like talking about his problems.

“At least he recognises that the problems have to be addressed.”

The judge, Recorder Martin Bethel QC, said: “I don’t feel in the public interest I can properly overlook these matters with anything but a custodial sentence.”

He jailed Clarke for 12 months. www.gazettelive.co.uk