BOUNCERS at a Swansea nightclub have been branded "thugs" by a Crown Court judge.

The comments were made during the sentencing of 25-year-old David Govier, who assaulted two men on a night out at Play nightclub in April, 2009.

Govier, of Danygraig Road, Port Tennant, was at the club socialising, but as an off-duty doorman he waded in to help a bouncer pal and two other door staff eject the two men — and a girl — from the premises.

During the fracas, one of the men was knocked unconscious by Govier, while the other suffered a broken jaw. None of the bouncers on duty have been identified or prosecuted by South Wales Police for their involvement, despite their actions being captured on CCTV.

On sentencing Govier, Judge Peter Haywood said: "There is far too much of this type of thuggery up and down the city, and in the Wind Street part of Swansea.

"I think the police ought to make inquiries about the identification of the other doormen. I appreciate door staff have a difficult job, but I wonder if sometimes they behave improperly."

Govier was sentenced to 48 weeks imprisonment for one count of causing grievous bodily harm to the victim with the broken jaw, and ordered to pay him £750 in compensation. He was sentenced to a concurrent 32-week term for causing actual bodily harm to the other victim, and ordered to pay him £250.

Both sentences were suspended for 18 months, and Govier was ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay costs of £1,200.

Judge Haywood continued: "This type of behaviour is all too prevalent in this city — violence that erupts onto the streets late at night, no doubt because people drink too much. Violence is becoming the way to end an evening."

Play manager Jules Sinclair-Simon said the bouncers concerned were no longer working there. A spokesman for South Wales Police said all the door staff involved had been quizzed during the investigation.

And he confirmed the incident would form part of a review into the club's licence which is due to be heard next month.

City centre inspector Cath Larkman said police had an "excellent working relationship" with door staff, but that any acts of violence or aggression would be dealt with "robustly".

emma.judd@swwmedia.co.uk