A judge told the 29-year-old defendant that as a member of bar security it had been his job ‘to prevent trouble, not start it – to protect customers, not injure them’
A bouncer at a busy bar put a customer in a neck-lock before throwing him into the street causing serious injuries, a court has heard.
James Wood had only been working on the doors for matter of weeks when he assaulted his victim, leaving him unconscious and bleeding on the floor.
A judge at Swansea Crown Court told the 29-year-old defendant that as a member of bar security it had been his job “to prevent trouble, not start it – to protect customers, not injure them”.
Samuel Jenkins, prosecuting, told the court that the incident happened at the Bonnie Rogues bar on Swansea’s Wind Street where the defendant worked as door staff.
The barrister said at just after 11pm on November 15 last year security staff intervened in a fight in the premises and began to escort a male towards the fire exit in order to eject him. The complainant began to follow staff saying the man being ejected was a friend of his, and he was told he would have to use the main entrance if he wanted to leave the bar.
The court heard the complainant continued to try to get out of the fire exit and a member of security took hold of his arm to lead him away. At that point join Wood joined in, putting the man in neck lock and helping to take him to the main door.
The prosecutor said Wood was then seen by other members of staff including the manager “swinging” the complainant and pushing him into the street, causing the man to fall face down to the floor. The court heard the complainant was left unconsciousness and bleeding from a wound to his face.
Police were called, and when the complainant came around he tried to walk off but was noted to be dazed and confused. He was subsequently taken to Morriston Hospital where medics found bruising around his eyes, a wound on the forehead, and damage to his front teeth.
Meanwhile Wood had been arrested, telling officers “I’m not that kind of person”. In his interview he accepted his behaviour had been reckless, saying he had not intended to cause injury. He said he had stepped in to help a colleague with a customer who was “resisting” him but accepted he had acted in a way that was outside his training.
The prosecutor said that at the time of the incident, Wood had only held a Security Industry Authority card for some two months.
The court heard that the complainant returned home to Somerset the day after the incident but began to feel unwell during the journey and went to Musgrave Park Hospital in Taunton. Doctors there noted he had three chipped teeth and advised him to make a dental appointment.
In an impact statement which was read to the court by the prosecution barrister, the victim said he had been left with black eyes, a facial scar, and damage to his teeth, and said that in the weeks that followed the assault he had experienced sleepless nights and would find himself wide awake in the early hours unable to shake off “intrusive thoughts”.
He said he had been due start work at M&S shortly after the incident to help pay off his university debts but had been unable to attend the training sessions and so lost that employment, and he said he had also had to miss his driving test.
James Wood, of Ilston Way, West Cross, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has no previous convictions.
Vince Williams, for Wood, said the defendant had written a letter in which he apologised for his actions and expressed remorse. He said while not an excuse, his client had only worked at Bonnie Rogues for a matter of weeks before the incident and lacked experience, and he said Wood “completely overreacted to the situation”.
Judge Paul Thomas KC told Wood that as a member of bar security it had been his job “to prevent trouble, not start it – to protect customers, not injure them”, and he described what happened as a “moment of madness”. He said it was accepted that that the level of injury the defendant caused to the complainant “far exceeded” that which had been intended.
The judge said it was clear both from the incident itself and from domestic-related police attendances at the defendant’s property which he had read about that Wood has “anger management issues”, and he told him that was something which he needed to sort out.
With a one-third discount for his guilty plea Wood was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to complete a rehabilitation course and to do 200 hours of unpaid work in the community.
Source – Wales Online
