Doctor who headbutted waiter suspended for a year

Nganjo Endeley attacked a waiter at the Wafi Lounge in Newcastle

A doctor who headbutted a waiter in a drunken rage after arriving three hours late for a reservation has been suspended for a year.

Nganjo Endeley, 42, fractured a 21-year-old worker's eye socket at the Wafi Lounge in Newcastle in September 2021, and received a suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm at Newcastle Crown Court.

He and two friends were angered to find the bar had closed at 02:30 BST when they arrived three hours after their 23:30 booking, the court previously heard.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Committee has now suspended the father of three, from Bowburn, Durham, as a doctor for 12 months.

The tribunal determined Endeley's fitness to practise was impaired by his conviction and the "appropriate and proportionate" period of suspension was the maximum 12 months permitted.

The tribunal did not find that he was a risk to public safety but ruled it was "in the public interest" for him to be suspended as a doctor immediately.

'Struggled to breathe'

Newcastle Crown Court previously heard the injured waiter and a female colleague were putting away tables outside the bar and restaurant when Endeley and his friends attempted to enter.

The trio, who were all drunk, were told the venue had closed but the court heard they became aggressive, saying they had a booking for 23:30.

Door staff tried to calm the men down and told them they did not want a fight, but Endeley grabbed his victim's shirt so tight he struggled to breathe.

Endeley, of Charlton Court, then dragged the worker around before headbutting him in the face, leaving the man semi-unconscious.

Hospital scans revealed a fracture to the victim's eye socket and in a statement he told the court he had been left with long-term pain and vision problems.