A doorman who seriously hurt a man when he pushed him over has been handed a suspended jail term.

Russell Smith gave a single shove to Duncan Brown, who was drunk at the time, outside the Gala Casino in Bristol, the city's crown court heard.

As a result Mr Brown struck his head on the ground and suffered a fractured skull.

Smith, 23, of Fonthill Road, Southmead, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm following the incident in August last year.

Imposing a nine-month jail term, suspended for a year, the recorder Mr Mark V. Horton told him: "You have come within a hair's breadth of going through the door behind you, rather than into the loving arms of your partner. Don't come back here again."

Smith was told to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

Ian Fenny, prosecuting, said when Mr Brown returned home from a night out his wife found him in a strange state and unable to speak.

A concerned doctor had him taken to Frenchay Hospital, where it was discovered he had a fractured skull and associated brain bleeding.

Mr Fenny said it transpired that on his night out Mr Brown had attempted to get into Gala Casino but had been refused entry.

The court heard though he remained passive throughout he hung around and tried the doors when they were closed.

Mr Fenny said: "Suddenly two doormen, including the defendant, barged from the casino."

He said two security guards saw Mr Brown was pushed violently to the ground.

The court heard Smith and a colleague then "dragged" Mr Brown away and he managed to go to a taxi rank and get home.

Mr Fenny said Mr Brown remained in hospital for a week and thereafter recuperated with his parents. He said he had received speech therapy and was concerned about the future possibility of suffering from epilepsy or random seizures.

Robin Shellard, defending, said his client was genuinely remorseful and had not intended to cause the injury.