Doorman at Norwich bar feared for his life when three men and a woman started a brawl

A doorman at a city bar feared for his life when three men and a woman started a brawl after one of their group was thrown out for suspected drug taking, a court has heard.

Justin Henry, 36, Gary Henry, 38, Tommie Buckingham, 21, and Mollie Culling, 20, reacted violently after security staff at Revolucion de Cuba ejected the sister of one of them.

Norwich Magistrates Court heard a “brawl” ensued after Buckingham became “aggressive” towards the staff.

One doorman said he was “fearful for his life” and was “fighting to protect his life” during the violence.

Rima Begum, prosecuting, said a staff member was “dragged to the floor” before the altercation spilled outside the Queen Street venue shortly after midnight on September 7.

She said while the group were outside kicking at doors, a bollard was also picked up and thrown against the doors and windows.

Door staff were also “punched repeatedly” during the incident with some of the group “pulled away” by members of the public.

A member of security staff received “bite marks on his arm and his thigh” although it was not clear who had been responsible.

Windows and doors as well as plant pots were also damaged during the melee.

Buckingham, of Gertrude Road, Norwich, Justin Henry, of Hill Common, Attleborough, Gary Henry, of Walnut Hill, Surlingham and Culling, of Green Lane East, Rackheath all appeared in court on Tuesday where they admitted affray.

Ian Fisher, who represented all four defendants, said it had been an “unattractive set of circumstances” that had brought them to court.

He said the sister of Gary and Justin had been “wrongly accused” of taking drugs and was “unceremoniously” taken from the venue which started a “bit of a chain reaction”.

He urged the court to adjourn the case so that a full pre-sentence report could be carried out on all four of the defendants.

Magistrates adjourned sentence until February 19.

Buckingham was granted conditional bail and the other three unconditional bail.’

Source – Eastern Daily Press