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This is the shocking moment a drunk clubber crept up behind a bouncer and plunged a knife into his neck - just because he’d told him to leave the bar.

Kyle Crowe, 21, was angry that doorman Kieran Sheridan had ordered him to ‘move on’, outside Modo Bar in Concert Square and returned to the Liverpool city centre nightspot an hour later armed with a knife.

Mr Sheridan underwent emergency surgery after last August’s attack. He needed a transfusion after losing 2.5 litres of blood and needed 29 staples to his wound.

Attack branded “cowardly”

Liverpool crown court was told today the knifing has left the 23-year-old bouncer paralysed in his shoulder area and had dashed his dreams of a career as a Royal Marine.

Mr Sheridan said he felt a ’genuine fear' for his life and medical experts described his injury as ‘extremely serious’.

Crowe, who admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon, was today jailed for eight years.

Judge Andrew Hatton branded his attack “cowardly.”

Crowe, a plasterer, of Swallowhurst Crescent, Norris Green , had been asked to leave Concert Square after Mr Sheridan’s manager claimed he and pals “had a bad attitude.”

Prosecutor Paul Blasbery said Crowe replied ‘Or what?’ in a confrontational and aggressive manner before Mr Sheridan stepped back and pushed the defendant with the flat of his palm.

He added: “The defendant fell to the floor. He got to his feet, searched in his clothing and then shouted to Mr Sheridan and his colleague, ‘You’re both getting it now!’

Mr Blasbery said: “He was again put on his back on the floor and there was an altercation between a number of parties. Mr Sheridan thinks his knee struck Crowe to his abdomen.

“He saw the three men leave the square.

“One hour later, Mr Sheridan was on the door, and described feeling a sharp blow to the side of his neck.

“He turned and saw the defendant running towards Wood Street. He felt weak and said, ‘I’ve been stolen on’, meaning he’d been punched.

“But a colleague said, no, you’ve been stabbed,’ and applied pressure to the wound.”

“I’m virtually helpless”

The court heard that after being expected to make a full recovery Mr Sheridan’s condition deteriorated and he developed paralysis of the trapezium muscle which has left him with a permanent shoulder injury.

In a statement, Mr Sheridan, who’s been diagnosed with post traumatic stress, said: “I’ve only left the house to get fresh air. The physical and emotional effects of the attack have been catastrophic.

“I used to train every day as I wanted to have a career in the Royal Marines. I’m waking up at the smallest noises.

“I’m seriously considering my career as a doorman as I don’t want to be subjected to a horrific assault again.

“I’m virtually helpless and I can’t do things for myself as I feel so vulnerable.

“I’ve gone from an extremely fit man, to a virtual hermit. I will never be the same confident, strong, fit person I was.”

Crowe: “This is a f***ing joke”

There were hostile scenes in court when Judge Andrew Hatton debated the level of prison sentence, with Crowe’s supporters storming angrily out of court, one of them swearing aggressively at the judge.

As he was sentenced Crowe shouted: “This is a f***ing joke.”

The judge told Crowe: “Rather than putting being asked to leave down to experience, you armed yourself with a knife, and in a cowardly attack, you crept up and stabbed him in the neck with a knife.

“He will be lucky if he has a career at all as a result of your cowardly attack.

“This was committed in a public place and while you were in drink on a victim who was providing a public service, attempting to bring order when people have had too much to drink.”

Merseyside Police today welcomed the sentencing.

Acting Detective Inspector Lee Wilkinson said: “This was a particularly nasty assault, compounded by the fact it took place in a busy area of the city centre on a Saturday night, when lots of people were out and about socialising.

“CCTV stills were circulated to the ECHO and thanks to that we were able to make an arrest and subsequently charge someone in connection with the assault.

“I hope this sentence comes as a deterrent to people that incidents of this nature will not be tolerated and we will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.

“Merseyside Police is committed to policing the city centre to the highest standard at all times and ensuring that Liverpool is a safe and enjoyable place to visit.”