Cop Headbutts Bum-Grope Love Rival

A young police officer's career lies in ruins after he head-butted and punched his fiancé's bum-groper - knocking out the victim's tooth during a drink-fuelled night-club attack.

PC Darren Martin, 26, of Lyndhurst Road, Bexleyheath, Kent left the victim with a cut to his lip and right ear, plus swelling and bruising and a lifelong 'dead tooth'.

He received 200 hours community service at Croydon Crown Court (pictured) after pleading guilty to assaulting Marcus Brown, causing him actual bodily harm, in 'Pure' night-club, Bexleyheath, in the early hours of November 28, last year.

Prosecutor Mr. Stephen Clayton told the court it was a busy Friday night and up to 500 customers were packed into the venue, which Martin visited with girlfriend Nicola Dunmill, downing three pints of Guinness.

"The victim, the club's assistant manager, had previously been Miss Dunmill's boyfriend and they had parted on friendly terms.

"As staff were closing up the victim passed Miss Dunmill, touching her on the bottom as he did, and she confirmed to the defendant he was her ex-boyfriend and the defendant became jealous.

"He walked up to the victim and head-butted him and followed up with a punch to the victim's right ear, knocking him to the floor," explained Mr. Clayton.

"The defendant was detained by staff, police were called and he was arrested."

Martin replied "no comment" when quizzed, but in a prepared statement told police: "Fearing for my safety I struck him with my head. Still fearing assault I struck at him with my hand."

The defendant is currently suspended on full pay, but will be sacked from the force. "It has not happened yet, but it is inevitable," confirmed his lawyer Mr. Robin Sellers.

"It is a great tragedy all round. It is a great shame the community is deprived of this individual," added the lawyer. "In this one moment of madness there was an all-consuming lack of judgement."

Martin has served five years as a police officer and in a letter to the court his Inspector confirmed he was a normally calm and thoughtful in his work.

"He was not drunk, but drink played a part," said Mr. Sellers. "He will not be working in the very near future, he will be dismissed."

Judge William Barnett QC told Martin: "You know as well as everyone else this was an extremely unfortunate incident and you are going to lose your job in the police force.

"You were a conscientious, sensible officer, undemonstrative in your character, which is just the sort of policeman people need working with the public.

"To some extent you were under the influence of drink and you pleaded guilty on the basis it was self-defence that went over the top," added the Judge.

"You thought he was going to hit you and you misjudged that."

No compensation to the victim was ordered because Martin - who has a daughter from a previous relationship - has credit card debts of £18,000, plus a property in negative-equity that needs an additional £350 mortgage top-up after he collects the rent.

"You are facing bankruptcy and I think it would by entirely wrong to order compensation or costs," announced Judge Barnett.