A SAUCHIE man has been given an unpaid work order for his role in a fight which broke out in Chalmers’ nightclub earlier this year.

Joshua Barnes (23), of Gartmorn Road, appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday (18 June) after pleading guilty to behaving in a threatening and abusive manner and assault to injury.

The incident took place inside the Bank Street nightclub during the small hours of 21 March 2015.

Barnes was said to have become embroiled in a fight with another male when he ‘lashed out’ at another man who was trying to calm the situation.

Depute fiscal Claire Bremner told the court: “The complainer became aware of a heated exchange between his friend and the accused.

“He saw they became involved in a fight and attempted to calm the situation down but the accused lashed out and struck the complainer on the left side of his mouth.” She added: “A bouncer in the nightclub made his way to the dance floor, where the assault took place. At this point the accused was struck on the head which made him fall back and strike the bouncer.” Barnes’ defence agent Toni Pentecost said that the fact that the bouncer was harmed in the incident served as a wake up call to her client.

She said: “Mr Barnes was pulled into an argument and accepts that he should have walked away.

“There was clearly a lot of drink involved and he was not overly aware of what was going on.

“He was quite upset to learn that the bar steward, whom he knows well, was injured in the incident. It has served as a bit of a wake up call for him.” She added: “Although he has a record, what seems to happen is that when he goes out, he drinks to excess and his judgment goes out the window.” In sentencing, Sheriff Gillian Wade made mention of Barnes’ ongoing efforts to address his relationship with alcohol.

She then imposed a community payback order of 90 hours’ unpaid work to be completed in the next six months.