A judge has attacked nightclub bosses for serving alcohol to drunken revellers just to “make a quick buck”.

His criticism followed an attack at Baa Bars in Canterbury in June, last year, which left one man with a broken jaw.

Restaurant worker Thomas O’Dea admitted downing seven or eight pints during a pub crawl with friends.

The group arrived at the club “severely under the influence of alcohol” but were allowed inside where they carried on drinking, Canterbury Crown Court was told.

Judge Timothy Nash told O’Dea, 22: “You shouldn’t have been let in [to Baa Bars] because you and your colleague had had far too much to drink.

“They made an error, which frequently happens these days with club owners.

“Instead of telling you to go away, they let you in and you had even more alcohol.

“They shouldn’t have served you when you were inside. And it is not the first time this kind of thing has happened at Baa Bars.

“But, no doubt, they were anxious to make a quick buck, that’s what they did.”

The judge added: “Despite that, the club were entitled to expect people who frequent clubs to behave themselves and not be violent.”

The court heard how O’Dea, of Old Park Avenue, Canterbury, began an argument after accidentally bumping into his victim James Bax on the dancefloor.

The two clashed and O’Dea punched Mr Bax in the face and he broke his jaw as he hit the floor.

O’Dea, who admitted assault, was given a six month jail sentence suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to do 220 hours of unpaid social work and pay £200 costs.

Oliver Saxby, defending, said O’Dea was so anxious to please the judge, he appeared in the dock in a dinner jacket and tie.

Judge Nash told him: “What should have been a pleasant night for a number of people was ruined because you overreacted to a crowded dancefloor.

“This incident should never have happened and wouldn’t have had if you had exerted a little more self-discipline.”