A BOUNCER hit a man as hard as he could before leaving him unattended and unconscious in the road, a court heard.

Leslie Wiseman, of Whitehouse Meadows, Eastwood, claims he acted in self defence when Paul Wallington suffered catastrophic injuries in the early hours of Christmas Day, 2018.

Mr Wallington, 25, died days later after being involved in the incident outside the Vine Bar, in Brentwood.

Wiseman denies manslaughter and is standing trial at Basildon Crown Court, where an eye-witness gave evidence on Friday.

He said: “I had been on a night out and was drinking from 9.45pm until 11.30pm. I was outside the Swan Pub with a friend and could see The Vine and my view was clear.

“There were two bouncers and one was particularly tall. There was a confrontation with the taller bouncer and the victim who had his back towards me. I couldn’t hear what was being said.

“Then the taller bouncer punched the victim in the right cheek with a closed fist. He leant back a bit and I could see anger and irritation in the bouncer’s face.

“The victim fell back off his feet about 1.5metres with some force and hit the ground.

“It was as hard as one could punch from a stable base.”

A previous witness had stated they were unsure if Wiseman had punched or pushed Mr Wallington.

Although the witness - who had been driving past at the time - insisted “excessive force” was used.

But Friday’s witness insisted it was a punch, adding the victim was left unattended on the ground.

He added: “He was on the floor for a sufficient time. I did not go and help as I didn’t know him and assumed others would go to help.

“After some time about four people from a nearby group carried him into an alleyway.

“The taller bouncer, the defendant, went to the alleyway and then came out and was shaking his head as he got into a car. The car then left.”

The court previously heard Mr Wallington had got into an argument in Vine Bar and was ejected, and had been protesting his innocence when the altercation took place.

The victim was taken to hospital but his condition worsened and he died on December 29.