A man assaulted a hotel security guard after a disturbance at the Fairmont Southampton, a court heard.

Undray Lightbourne, 31, pleaded guilty to assaulting the employee with actual bodily harm when he appeared at Plea Court.

Senior Crown counsel Paula Tyndale said three security officers were called to room 466 on the third floor of the hotel at 3.15 a.m. on February 1, following "reports of a disturbance".

"Upon arrival they found a female crying who had locked herself in the bathroom following an argument," said Ms Tyndale.

"The defendant, her boyfriend of two years, had kicked at the bathroom door and damaged it. The security officers told him to leave but he failed to do so and he started to throw punches at the complainant (the security guard), who fell back on the bed."

Ms Tyndale said Lightbourne then punched the guard, injuring his left forehead and cheek. When Police arrived, officers noticed he had received a cut to his forehead and facial bruising.

Lightbourne, who has since paid the hotel for the damage, said in a Police interview that he "recalled very little of the incident, to do with being intoxicated at the time".

The court heard he had no previous convictions and manages a tow-truck company and auto-repair shop.

Lightbourne told the court he had attended a masquerade ball on the evening of the assault.

"I was intoxicated, which is not an excuse for my actions," he said.

"I have apologised to the security guard. I'm sorry, it's out of my character, I don't really do stuff like that."

He said he was now banned from the Fairmont Southampton and the hotel's other properties.

"It's not a good look for me, and I haven't been drinking anymore," he said.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner gave him a year's conditional discharge, on condition he attend an alcohol programme.

"My advice to you is if you can't handle the booze, leave it alone," he said.