Friday, August 14 2009, 12:45 BST
By Andrew Laughlin, Technology Reporter
A BBC presenter has been sacked by the corporation after he was found guilty of hitting a teenager in the face with a patio umbrella, according to reports.
Ashley Blake, who was a reporter on Midlands Today and also worked on the Inside Out current affairs programme, was convicted on charges of unlawful wounding during a hearing at Birmingham Crown Court.
The incident in question occurred in January at an 18th birthday celebration at The Place 2B pub in Sutton Coldfield, which was owned by Blake at the time.
Prosecution lawyers told the court that the 40-year-old had swung the umbrella above his head, striking 17-year-old Greg Jones in the face and injuring his chin and lip.
Blake was also found guilty of perverting the course of justice after he threw the wooden pole into a nearby garden centre in an effort to prevent police from discovering it.
Judge Peter Carr said that a jail term was "almost inevitable" due to the severity of the offence, with the presenter due to be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on September 2.
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Blake said that he was "gutted" at the verdict, adding: "It's all over, isn't it? My job - everything."
In response, a BBC spokesman said: "Ashley Blake was found guilty last week of two serious charges. An internal process has resulted in Ashley's dismissal which is effective immediately."
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A BBC newsreader has lost his job after he was found guilty of unlawful wounding of a teenager. Ashley Blake, 40, who presented ''Midlands Today'', attacked Greg Jones, 17, with a wooden pole outside a bar in Birmingham in January. Jones received injuries to his lip and chin.

The trial took place at Birmingham Crown Court and concluded on August 3. The presenter, who was arrested at the scene, denied the attack and claimed he used the pole to protect himself from bottles being thrown at him by up to thirty people. Blake was also convicted of attempting to pervert the course of justice. The judge told Blake it was "almost inevitable" he was going to be sent to jail.

A BBC spokesman released a statement that said, "Ashley Blake was found guilty last week of two serious charges. An internal process has resulted in Ashley's dismissal which is effective immediately."

After the conviction, Blake spoke to reporters, saying, "I am just gutted, absolutely gutted ... it's all over, isn't it? My job — everything." Blake is scheduled to be sentenced on September 2.