The manager of a nightclub who was caught on CCTV kicking and beating a man after chasing him from the venue into a bus station has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.

Cameron Dark was caught on Maidstone town centre’s CCTV running after the unknown man after he made a vile comment about his child outside the Zoo bar and nightclub.

The 25-year-old caught up with him and took hold of his head and punched him several times to the top of the head.

He struck him with such force he had to be pulled off by a security guard who had also run after the man.

But not content there, Dark then attacked the man further by kicking him several times as he lay on the ground leaving him blooded and bruised.

Several passers-by tried to intervene in the onslaught and stop Dark from attacking the man further and one woman put herself in between Dark and the unidentified man to stop the attack.

The security guard who was also there had to protect the man from Dark’s violence.

Then as the guard put his body over the man who was still on the ground to protect him, Dark then punched him four more times with his fist.

The injured man was left bleeding from his face and nose, which can clearly be seen on the CCTV footage shown in court, and then Dark even stands over him waving his finger in his face remonstrating with him.

CCTV operators reported the matter, which happened at about 4am on April 24 last year, and despite police not identifying the man, Dark was later called into a police station for a voluntary interview and made no comment when he was shown the CCTV footage.

Dark of Weavering, Maidstone, was later charged with assault by beating.

He pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared before magistrates in Maidstone on November 1, last year.

At the time, Julie Farbrace prosecuting said: “He was working as the manager of The Zoo in Maidstone and the victim was spotted on CCTV running into the bus station from King Street.

“A security guard from Maidstone Town Centre ran after him and catches up with him and they are seen talking to each other.

“Mr Dark can then be seen running down one side of the bus station and approaches them and takes hold of the unknown male and punches him to the top of the head.

“The security guard then pulls him away and and while on the floor and tries to protect him but the defendant assaults him further and kicks him several times, a female passerby puts herself between them to stop the assault, but he then continues to hit him four times with his fist.”

Ms Farbrace then played the CCTV footage to magistrates and told them the man was clearly injured because blood could be seen on the CCTV footage.

She added: “The CCTV shows he is bleeding from the face and nose and then Mr Dark stands over him and points his finger in his face.”

The prosecutor also told the court Dark had previous convictions including battery, possession of a prohibited weapon and a grievous bodily harm conviction for which he received an eight-month suspended sentence.

In November, the court also heard there had been an earlier altercation at the bar between the unknown man and the door staff.

He had been ejected but had punched Dark without warning outside the club and kicked him and when Dark fell to the floor, he lost his mobile phone in the process.

The unidentified man is also said to have made obscene remarks about Dark’s young daughter which angered him and when he ran off from the club, it was thought he had taken Dark’s phone with him. The court heard it was never recovered.

Magistrates were also told Dark suffered from ADHD and had admitted when he watched the CCTV at the court, the footage was a horrible watch.

They were also told Dark, who claimed he was working as a promoter at the club at the time of the attack and not a manager, had suffered a traumatic and abusive childhood and had anger issues as a result.

He had previously attended anger management classes, but wanted more help with that issue and was no longer working as he was now his daughter’s primary carer.

Magistrates decided to adjourn sentencing for a pre-sentencing report to be carried out on Dark and he returned to the same court on Friday January 5 to hear his fate.

The bench placed him on an 18-month community order which will see him carry out 120 hours of unpaid work within 12 months and also attend at least 19 rehabilitation sessions with probation.

Dark was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £114 and £85 court costs.