A FATHER punched a pub doorman so hard that he fractured his eye socket, a court heard.

Steve Berry took exception to his son, Christopher Berry, being confronted by the doorman about suspected drug misuse and another son being asked to leave the Dog and Partridge pub in Bolton.

Yesterday, at Bolton Crown Court, he hugged his sons in the dock before he was led away to start a 16-month jail sentence.

Steve Berry, aged 56, of Eskdale Drive, Middleton, had pleaded guilty to wounding doorman Franklin Wadji. He had also pleaded guilty to assaulting a second doorman, Richard Sherwin, the same charge admitted by his sons Christopher Berry, aged 35, and Ian Berry, aged 30, both of Hollinwood Avenue, New Moston.

Lisa Bakker, prosecuting, told the court how Mr Sherwin and Mr Wadji were working at the pub in Manor Street when the Berry family arrived in the early hours of May 22 last year. The pub has a strict no drugs policy and Mr Wadji confronted Christopher Berry near the toilets, although no drugs were subsequently found on him.

His father and brother took exception to this and Steve Berry punched Mr Wadji in the face then punched Mr Sherwin, as well as accidentally catching him on the forehead with his foot.

Ian and Christopher Berry also punched Mr Sherwin. Police were called and the three were arrested.

Both doormen were treated at hospital.

When his vision deteriorated two days later, Mr Wadji returned to hospital where he was found to have suffered a fractured eye socket and needed surgery to relieve pressure behind the eye. Nina Graham, defending Steve Berry, said the situation in the pub had quickly escalated due to his “somewhat overprotective attitude towards his sons” which had caused him to lose his temper.

Christopher Berry was sentenced to a 12-month community order and ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work and attend the New Directions Activity programme.

He was also ordered to pay £300 compensation and £500 towards prosecution costs.

Ian Berry was given a six-month community order with instructions to attend the New Directions Activity programme. He was ordered to pay £200 compensation and £300 towards prosecution costs.