A Main Street bar bouncer who struck an unruly patron in the back of the head with a baseball bat has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Joshua Russell Adams, 26, pleaded guilty yesterday to aggravated assault.

Court heard Adams tried to quell a melee involving several patrons in the Northern Hotel bar on Oct. 3, 2006, and called police for help before assaulting the victim.

The 50-year-old victim was kicking and punching a co-accused, Raymond Roussin, when Adams hit the victim from behind with a baseball bat, knocking him to the ground. Roussin kicked the victim while he was on the floor and attacked him again when he tried to get to his feet. Adams also kicked the victim while he was on the floor.

The attack was captured by hotel security video.

'Without warning'

"Generally, I have a lot of sympathy for you doing your best to try and break-up the fight," said Justice Doug Abra. "There is no question in my mind (the victim) was acting very aggressively.

"The difficulty I have is that you came up behind (the victim) with the baseball bat without any warning ... giving Mr. Roussin the opportunity to further beat (him). You crossed the line."

The victim was taken to hospital in critical condition but has since recovered.

Defence lawyer Tony Cellitti argued the victim had a history of violence that included an earlier attack on two Northern Hotel employees and another barroom dispute in which he was struck in the head with a baseball bat.

At the time of the attack, Adams was on probation for uttering threats. Adams was released on bail and returned to work at the hotel until July 2007.

Roussin previously pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm and was sentenced to 15 months in jail.