Bristol, Bristol, UK

Tuesday, 31 March 2009

 

Bouncer 'threw clubber to the ground face first'

A night-clubber with a dangerous blood condition lost nine teeth after a bouncer threw his unconscious body face down on to the pavement, a jury heard yesterday.

Jack Ridler said he fell unconscious after being put in a headlock on the dancefloor before coming round in agony on the street outside Subtone nightclub in Cheltenham.

Mr Ridler told Bristol Crown Court he suffers from Von Willebrand disease – a blood condition – that makes him more susceptible to a brain haemorrhage. He spent five days in hospital recovering from his injuries.

Bouncer Mark Thomas, 32, of Dunlin Close, Quedgeley, denies grievous bodily harm and actual bodily harm last June 7.

James Tucker, prosecuting, told the jury Mr Ridler had been drinking at the nightclub when he was attacked.

He said: "It was 12.30am and Jack Ridler was on the dancefloor. There were a lot of people jostling and shoving and Mr Ridler got fed up and pushed somebody away from him. As a result, he was repeatedly punched by people on the dancefloor.

"It was at that point the bouncer became involved. He grabbed Mr Ridler from behind and used his arm to grip around his throat. Because of the pressure he was applying, Mr Ridler passed out and was dragged from the dancefloor.

"It was while he was unconscious that he was taken by the bouncer to the fire exit door and dumped on to the pavement face down, which was witnessed by other people."

Mr Ridler lost consciousness, but when he came round he had a painful chin and could feel that his teeth were cracked, Mr Tucker said.

He added: "He was taken to A&E at Cheltenham General Hospital where he had 13 stitches to his chin and nine teeth removed and several others repaired.

"The defendant was interviewed by police and said that while trying to get Mr Ridler out of the door, he had stumbled and accidently dropped him, causing the injuries to his face. The prosecution says this was simply not the case and that what he did was well beyond reasonable force."

Addressing the jury, Mr Ridler said he had consumed a quarter of a litre of vodka at a friend's house before having more shots at a local bar and three alcopops in the nightclub. He said that he had been targeted on the dancefloor by four men, before being grabbed by bouncer Thomas.

He said: "I have tight jeans and long hair and it can rub people up the wrong way.

"They started pushing us and kept slapping me in the face. We tried to avoid it for a bit but then I pushed one and he punched me and his three friends started punching me.

"The bouncer came from behind me and put his around my neck. I tried to pull it off but it got tighter and I blacked out."

The trial continues.