Policeman escapes jail despite punching a man so hard he fractured his eye socket

A policeman has escaped jail despite punching a man so hard he fractured his eye socket in Oceana nightclub.

Christopher Thatcher, 28 from Chessington, a serving police constable at Hammersmith Police station, was sentenced to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work in the community at Kingston Crown Court on Thursday.

Thatcher was also ordered to pay £500 compensation to his victim.

Sentencing Thatcher and Walker, Judge Tilling told them "It is deeply regrettable that you became involved in an incident like this where the jury decided that you instigated the violence."

Thatcher and his flatmate David Walker had been on a night out with friends in Kingston at the time of the assault on November 18 last year.

Victims Adam Russell, 21 and Darren Stone, 21, were also out with five or six friends and arrived at Oceana nightclub about 9.30pm.

Between 10pm and midnight, Mr Russell went to the bar to buy a drink and was knocked by Thatcher, spilling his drink.

Mr Russell told Thatcher to "watch it", after which Thatcher walked away to the foyer of the nightclub, followed by Mr Russell.

After an exchange in the foyer, Thatcher swung a punch at Mr Russell, fracturing his eye socket.

Mr Russell's friend Darren Stone went over to break up the fight between the two men but the next thing he remembered was lying on the floor with a deep cut to his head after being punched by Walker.

Hammersmith police are now, incredibly, deciding whether or not he will lose his job.