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THIS is the shocking moment a Bolton Wanderers star and his dad beat up a bouncer in a "merciless" attack.

Kyle Dempsey, 27, and dad, Michael, 50, launched what a judge described as a “ugly group” attack on doorman Darryl Jarvis.

This is the shocking moment Bolton Wanderers star Kyle Dempsey and his dad beat up bouncer in ‘merciless’ attack
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This is the shocking moment Bolton Wanderers star Kyle Dempsey and his dad beat up bouncer in ‘merciless’ attackCredit: CPS
CCTV footage captured the pair's shocking attack
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CCTV footage captured the pair's shocking attackCredit: CPS
Bolton Wanderers star Kyle Dempsey and his dad were spared prison despite their vicious attack
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Bolton Wanderers star Kyle Dempsey and his dad were spared prison despite their vicious attackCredit: Getty

Father and son had earlier admitted actual bodily harm assault on Mr Jarvis during the violent incident at Maryport Labour Club in Cumbria on July 16 last year.

Kyle Dempsey and Michael Dempsey were yesterday handed prison sentences of 12 and 13 months, respectively, suspended for 18 months.

Shocking CCTV footage released by the Crown Prosecution Service, showed the moment the pair launched the attack.

The footballer was seen kicking the victim twice in the horrific assault.

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Kyle Dempsey, from Blackpool, had been playing for Wanderers in a friendly game against Carlisle United earlier in the day before going to socialise with his family at the Tap Tavern in Maryport, the court heard.

Dempsey senior, from Maryport, drank six or seven pints while his son had three or four.

It was as they were walking to the Labour Club to collect Kyle Dempsey’s granddad that the footballer was allegedly attacked by a local man who’d previously caused the family problems.

Kyle Dempsey was knocked unconscious, the court heard.

After coming round, the dad and son “chased” the attacker towards the club where doorman Darryl was greeted by a “swarm” of people at around 10.30pm.

The man who is said to have attacked Kyle was able to get into the club while there was a struggle taking place at the doors.

CCTV footage of the incident revealed Kyle Dempsey to be “acting aggressively” outside the club, the judge said.

Michael Dempsey is said to have thrown a punch, according to the doorman, and the blow connected with his face.

The bouncer told the court he recalled feeling "multiple strikes to my body and face and head” as he was “bent double” and yanked downwards.

Mr Jarvis told the court that he had suffered "at least a dozen blows".

The incident was temporarily stopped after staff at the club closed the door but it flared up again after the doors were flung open, having been kicked by Michael Dempsey.

Prosecutor Gerard Rogerson said Mr Jarvis had restrained Kyle Dempsey in a bid to prevent trouble moments earlier.

“Kyle Dempsey then broke free and began to assault Mr Jarvis by the use of punches and also the use of his knee in an upwards motion towards Mr Jarvis,” said Mr Rogerson.

“When that has happened, Mr Dempsey senior also joined in, raining punches towards Mr Jarvis.”

Mr Jarvis recalled: “After a series of blows I felt an immediate strike to the left side of my head.

"I felt warm liquid and then realised I was bleeding.”

He added: “There were a lot of females screaming, ‘get off him’.”

Mr Jarvis suffered a broken nose, bruised ribs, a cut head, chipped tooth and bruising which forced him off work as both a doorman and a care home maintenance manager.

Kyle Dempsey sat forward and looked down as the court heard Mr Jarvis' victim impact statement.

“I’ve been left with a scar to the left side of my head which is a constant reminder of the attack,” the bouncer said.

“July 16 is my wedding anniversary and now it will always be overshadowed as a reminder of the violence I suffered by two people who I can only describe as mindless thugs who had the sole intention of causing me serious harm.”

Kyle Dempsey, of Blackpool, and Michael Dempsey, of Whitecroft, Maryport, admitted actual bodily harm assault.

They claimed they used excessive self-defence and going overboard in the face of provocation - but this was dismissed by a judge who concluded it had been a “determined and sustained assault”.

It was, Judge Ian Unsworth KC concluded, an “ugly, group attack”; “wildly excessive, ruthless and merciless”.

Kyle Dempsey and Michael Dempsey - who also admitted damaging the door - were given prison sentences of 12 and 13 months, respectively.

But these were both suspended for 18 months.

Both men were ordered to pay Mr Jarvis £1,500 compensation, complete 200 hours’ unpaid work and night-time curfews are in place.

In Kyle Dempsey's case, his curfew will not be electronically monitored and can be varied in light of any “employment issues”.

Judge Unsworth said: “This was, as each of you have acknowledged, shameful conduct.

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"You have each let yourself down, your family down and, in your case, Kyle Dempsey, you know that you have let down the people who employ you and those who look up to you.

“But it is important you are not treated any differently from anybody else appearing before these courts.”

Kyle Dempsey of Bolton Wanderers celebrates with the Papa Johns Trophy earlier in April
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Kyle Dempsey of Bolton Wanderers celebrates with the Papa Johns Trophy earlier in AprilCredit: Rex
Kyle Dempsey in action against Exeter City earlier this month
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Kyle Dempsey in action against Exeter City earlier this monthCredit: Rex
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