Irdi Cupi had only had two drinks yet had no recollection of the unprovoked attack, a court heard
A thug punched a Leicester doorman in the side of the face while the doorman was questioning his friends before letting them into a city centre bar. Personal trainer Irdi Cupi and his friends were trying to get into Café Bruxelles in Leicester High Street, when the incident happened.
Leicester Magistrates’ Court was told yesterday (Monday, July 15) that Cupi had no recollection of what he had done, despite only having had two drinks. The court heard that the doorman was talking to other members of Cupi’s group and suddenly felt someone punch him to the right side of his face.
Prosecutor Sukhy Basi said: “He received pain to the side of his face and swelling as a result. The defendant punched him out of the blue. He had been talking to a group, who were friends of the defendant, asking them questions before allowing them into the premises.”
The court heard that Cupi, who pleaded guilty to assault by beating, had previous convictions for battery and assault occasioning actual bodily harm from an incident in Northamptonshire in 2019.
Dawn McKnight, representing Cupi, of Merlin Road, Weldon, Northants, said: “He had come to Leicester for a night out. He has very little recollection.
“He recalled being arrested by police officers but he could give me no reason why he assaulted the doorman. He tells me he had a couple of drinks and no more.”
She said Cupi, who worked as a salesman and a personal trainer, was remorseful.
The chairman of the bench, Anne Cowan, said the case was concerning. She said: “It’s always a bit worrying when it’s an unprovoked attack, and you’re a personal trainer and you need to remember that because of the strength you’ve got.
“You’ve got previous violence on your record and that’s something that’s concerning. And it was on a doorman who was just doing his job.”
Cupi was given a 12-month community order with 56 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £50 compensation to the doorman plus £85 court costs and a £114 victim surcharge.
Source – Leicester Mercury