Suspended term for club assault

A police officer who attacked a man in a Belfast nightclub has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Vincent Turpin, 29, received five months imprisonment, suspended for two years, for lashing out and inflicting a laceration above the victim's eye.

A lawyer told Belfast Magistrates Court Turpin was likely to lose his job.

He said Turpin had problems with his partner and downed half a bottle of 70% proof absinthe before the 2006 assault at the M Club.

Turpin, who address was given as Antrim Road Police Station, Belfast, pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The lawyer said Turpin, an officer with seven years experience, was now remorseful and had phoned the victim to apologise.

District Judge Greg McCourt said Turpin had not shown contrition when he originally planned to contest the charge.

"I regard this as a serious incident - any district judge would regard it as serious," Mr McCourt said.

"You have lost credit by not pleading guilty at an early stage. A lot of time was spent preparing for this case."

The judge acknowledged Turpin's previous clear record, along with his alcohol and domestic-related issues, but stressed: "None of that justifies a totally unprovoked assault on the injured party."

As well as imposing the five months suspended jail term, Mr McCourt ordered Turpin to pay the victim £500 compensation.