A THUG has been jailed for attacking a toilet attendant in a strip club.

Robert Sansford repeatedly punched Mr Anayo Aghara in Grace’s Gentleman’s Club in North Street, Brighton, on September 23, 2017.

Sansford, of Summersdeane, Southwick, appeared at Hove Crown Court yesterday, and pleaded guilty to the charge of grievous bodily harm with intent.

The court heard how Mr Aghara had twice asked the 66-year-old to stop urinating on the floor of the club toilets just after 5am, and Sansford had ignored him and then hit him in the head.

Prosecuting, Rebecca Upton said: “He punched Mr Aghara and knocked him backwards. He then took up a boxing stance and knocked him to the ground.

“Mr Aghara reported feeling shocked and scared.

“This was a sustained assault committed on someone providing a service to the public.”

The court heard Mr Aghara was assisted by a security officer, who found him on the toilet floor with blood on his face.

When the security officer asked Sansford why he had assaulted Mr Aghara, he had told them: “Because he p****d me off”.

Mr Aghara suffered a severe head injury from the attack and was taken to A and E, and spent five days in hospital.

Judge Paul Tain said: “I would say it’s a sustained assault.

“It’s a bad offence of its type, committed by someone who presumably has a problem with drink.”

Sansford has 26 convictions for 52 offences, and in 2010 he was the first person to receive a ‘booze ASBO’, and was banned from every pub in England Wales.

Defence solicitor Beverley Cherrill told the court Sansford had paid Mr Aghara £1700 in compensation for his injuries and his lost earnings.

She said: “He’s hoping to restore Mr Aghara to the condition he was in before the criminal attack.

“I do ask you to consider his remorse and guilty plea.”

Ms Cherrill added Sansford has a heart condition and requires an operation.

As he sentenced Sansford to three years and 4 months, Judge Tain said: “The fact that you have paid restitution is in my view an unusual and commendable feature.”