AN off-duty doorman assaulted a man shortly before he was killed in a separate road traffic accident, Southampton magistrates heard.

Stephen Bodley, 41, admitted punching Ali Farah Bullaleh three times in the face and on the back of the head outside The Dungeon nightclub in Bevois Valley, Southampton.

Prosecutor Frank Richardson said Mr Bullaleh died after collapsing in the road and being struck by a vehicle some two hours after the assault. He stressed the two incidents were not connected.

He described how Mr Bullaleh had been asked to leave the club, although he had not been causing trouble.

Bodley, who knew Mr Bullaleh had been banned from The Hobbit pub, where Bodley worked, followed him outside and punched him during a struggle.

In interview, Bodley told police he did not particularly like Mr Bullaleh and, under the influence of drink, "saw red".

If he had been sober nothing would have happened, he added.

Mr Richardson said that, after the assault, which happened at about 2am, Mr Bullaleh was seen walking along the road. Shortly afterwards, he contacted the ambulance service, who attended him at about 2.45am. Police received a report about an hour later that a man had been run over in the road.

A post-mortem revealed Mr Bullaleh had died from chest injuries.

He was also found to have double the legal limit of alcohol in his blood for driving, and he may also have taken amphetamine. He was seen to have an injury to his lip consisted with being punched.

Bodley, of Tedder Way, Totton, admitted common assault and was ordered to observe an 8pm to 6am curfew for 12 weeks.