AN ARMED thug who stabbed a soldier in the back outside a Colchester nightclub will not be brought to justice.

One man involved in the mass brawl has admitted affray, after punching the victim repeatedly, but he was not responsible for the knife wound.

Daniel Westley-Fortune, 25, admitted his part in the melee outside Liquid Envy, and was given a suspended sentence at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday.

The court heard rows broke out between two groups during a night out at the High Street club.

Ahmed Hossain, prosecuting, told the court arguments inside spilled outside and developed into a “fracas”.

Westley-Fortune punched the victim repeatedly and punched him in the back repeatedly when he was on the floor.

The victim was stabbed at some point by someone and left with a knife blade embedded in his back .

He bled profusely and required emergency surgery at Colchester General Hospital.

Mr Hossain, reading the defendant’s basis of plea, said: “The defendant accepts going out to where the fighting was taking place and started to join in.

“During the altercation he saw someone brandishing a knife.

“He took this knife off the person and put it in a nearby bin.”

Westley-Fortune, a bricklayer and father-of-three from Campernell Close, Brightlingsea, was sentenced to nine months in jail, suspended for 12 months for affray.

80 hours unpaid work was attached to the sentence.

Judge Patricia Lynch QC said: “You only got involved because you were going to the assistance of a female friend who had clear injuries who had been assaulted by Mr Beaumont or his cohorts.

“Most of the public would feel they understand why you acted in the way you did.

“The CCTV shows you were involved in punching Mr Beaumont.

“Thereafter repeatedly punching him when he was down on the floor.

“That is why these matters are so serious.

“These street fights between young people, outside nightclubs, when they are in drink and drugs leave normal members of the public terrified.

“Inevitably serious injuries are a consequence.

“That has happened here.

“Mr Beaumont was fortunate.

“Young people get killed in situations like this.

“I make it perfectly clear you are in no way responsible for the knife injury.”

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed there are no further criminal proceedings due and it is not known who stabbed the victim.

The brawl took place on June 27, 2014.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Four people were arrested during the early hours of June 27, 2014 following the assault at about 3.20am.”

The other three were released without charge due to insufficient evidence.

The spokesman for Essex Police said the case is not closed and anyone who has any new evidence about the stabbing should call Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.