The manager of a nightclub was caught on CCTV kicking and beating a man after chasing him into a bus station.

Cameron Dark was caught on Maidstone town centre’s CCTV running after the unknown man after he made a vile comment about his child outside the Zoo bar and nightclub.

The 25-year-old caught up with him, took hold of his head and punched him several times to the top of the head. A security guard, who had also run after the man, had to pull him away from the victim.

Dark then attacked the man further by kicking him several times as he lay on the ground leaving him blooded and bruised.

Several passersby even tried to intervene in the onslaught and stop Dark from attacking the man further.

One woman put herself in between Dark and the unidentified man to stop the attack.

The security guard put his body over the man to protect him, but Dark punched him a further four times.

The injured man was left bleeding from his face and nose, which can be seen on the CCTV footage which was shown in court. Dark then stands over him waving his finger in his face remonstrating with him.

CCTV operators reported the matter, which happened at about 4am on April 24, and despite police not identifying the man, Dark was later called into a police station for a voluntary interview and made no comment when he was shown the CCTV footage.

Dark, of Weavering, Maidstone, was later charged with assault by beating and pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared before magistrates in Maidstone on November 1.

Julie Farbrace, prosecuting, said: “He was working as the manager of The Zoo in Maidstone and the victim was spotted on CCTV running into the bus station from King Street.

“A security guard from Maidstone Town Centre catches up with him and they are seen talking to each other.

“Mr Dark can then be seen running down one side of the bus station and approaches them and takes hold of the unknown male and punches him to the top of the head.”

Ms Farbrace then played the CCTV footage to magistrates and told them the man was clearly injured because blood could be seen on the CCTV footage.

She added: “The CCTV shows he is bleeding from the face and nose and then Mr Dark stands over him and points his finger in his face.”

The prosecutor also told the court Dark had previous convictions including battery, possession of a prohibited weapon and a grievous bodily harm conviction for which he received an eight-month suspended sentence.

The court heard there had been an earlier altercation at the bar between the unknown man and the door staff. He had been ejected but had punched Dark without warning outside the club and kicked him.

When Dark fell to the floor he lost his mobile phone.

He is also said to have made obscene remarks about Dark’s young daughter which angered him and when the unknown man ran off from the club, it was thought he had taken Dark’s phone with him. The court heard it was never recovered.

Magistrates were also told Dark suffered from ADHD and had admitted when he watched the CCTV at the court, the footage was a horrible watch.

They were also told Dark, who claimed he was working as a promoter at the club a the time of the attack and not a manager, had suffered a traumatic and abusive childhood and had anger issues as a result and had previously attended anger management classes, but wanted more help with that issue and was no longer working as he was now his daughter’s primary carer.

Magistrates decided to adjourn sentencing for a pre-sentencing report to be carried out on Dark. He will return to the same court on January 5 to hear his fate.