Telford club bouncer pushed punter, court is told

CCTV cameras captured John Davies giving Martin Foster a "short, sharp shove" as he escorted him out of the Jukebox nightclub in Telford.

Shrewsbury Crown Court heard Mr Foster was asked to leave by Davies and two other doormen as staff prepared to shut the nightspot in Oakengates.

Mr Tim Russell, prosecuting, said Davies was working as a security guard at the nightclub and Mr Foster was a patron.

He told the court: "It was the early hours of the morning and staff wanted to close up. Mr Foster, by his own admission, had quite a lot to drink that evening.

"He had his drink taken off him.

"Mr Davies put his hand on his back and ushered him out.

"It was at that point that Mr Davies seized Mr Foster from behind with two hands and gave him a short sharp shove.

"He was close to furniture and a wall, he was in drink, therefore the risk of him falling and suffering injury must have been apparent.

"He picked him up a bit like a sack of potatoes and carried him towards the door.

"He suffered injuries, not surprising considering he had been pitched head-first into a wall.

"It was strikingly apparent the lack of concern shown by Mr Davies towards Mr Foster.

"Mr Davies had lost his temper when he shoved Mr Foster like that. That shove is not the use of reasonable force to escort a patron from the club.

"There is a considerable weight and size difference between the two men, he could have simply escorted him out."

The court heard Mr Foster was taken to hospital in an ambulance following the incident and suffered cuts to his head and face, as well as bruising to one of his arms.

Giving evidence, the victim said he had drunk "three of four pints" in the Rose & Crown pub in Ketley before walking to the nightclub where he drank around the same amount.

"I felt a bit drunk," he said.

"I think they told me to get out, I was walking towards the door. I felt a shove to my back and I fell forwards. I fell over, I think I hit my head off the table and then the serving hatch."

Davies, 33, of Willowfield, Woodside, Telford, denies assault occasioning actual bodily harm at the club on October 27 last year. The trial continues.