ENGLAND ACE IN COURT
Bouncer tells how ‘spiteful’ Ben Stokes ‘called him a “c***” and offered him £300 to buy his way into club’
A BOUNCER today told a court how "spiteful" England cricket star Ben Stokes called him a "c***" after he refused him entry to a club.
Stokes, 27, is accused of openly mocking two gay men before knocking out two revellers during a "sustained episode of violence" in Bristol.
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A court heard the 6ft 2ins all-rounder "mimicked" gay men Kai Barry and William O'Connor outside a club before brawling in the street.
He later flicked a 'V' sign at the bouncer before making "noises" to mock the openly gay couple, the court was told.
Stokes was later arrested after allegedly knocking out fellow clubbers Ryan Hale and Ryan Ali - leaving both needing hospital treatment.
Hale and Ali also face a single count of affray alongside Stokes.
On the second day of his trial, Mbargo nightclub bouncer Andrew Cunningham told the jury that Stokes was making "camp gestures" to "take the mickey" out of Mr Barry and Mr O'Connor.
Mr Cunningham, 37, refused to let the star into the venue - where he was head doorman - because it was after 2am.
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Stokes tried to bribe him with £300 but Mr Cunningham refused and claimed he would "lose his job".
The bouncer said: "He got a bit verbally abusive towards myself. He mentioned my gold teeth and he said I looked like a c*** and I replied 'thank you very much'.
Mr Cunningham, who has four gold front teeth and is heavily tattooed, told the court he knew "flamboyant and camp" Mr O'Connor and Mr Barry as regulars on the local social scene.
He said Stokes - who he described as the "ginger one" - and teammate Alex Hales attempted to gain entry to the nightclub after 2am, which was not allowed.
Describing Mr Barry and Mr O'Connor, he said: "They were talking to each other, they are quite extravagant people.
"When they talk, their mannerisms are not as everyone else, they are a bit more flamboyant. The ginger guy picked up on this and started to take the mick out of them.
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"He started to mimic their actions. He didn't speak, he just made noises to sound like them because if you hear them speak they are quite high-pitched guys.
"They are quite effeminate guys and their voices are different. He made noises to try to copy them, not saying anything just making stupid noises. Just like hand gestures - camp gestures.
"They (Mr O'Connor and Mr Barry) just stood back. I do not think they were angry by what went on but they stood at the side."
Mr Cunningham, who is not a cricket fan, said a few students and taxi drivers had mentioned that members of the England team, including Jonny Bairstow and Liam Plunkett, were in the club that night.
He added: "The two guys were standing in front... one flicked a cigarette butt at one of them. It was aimed in their direction.
"I asked him 'If you are going to start on someone start on me'.
"That's when I stepped in because they hadn't done anything wrong. If you want to vent your anger at someone, do it at me not them.
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"When I said this his friend looked a bit confused. I explained to him what he had done. He turned to his friend and said 'Stokesy don't do that'."
He added: "The ginger one offered me £60 and asked me if that would get them in. He had a conversation with his friend and he said '£300 get us in' and I still told them no.
"I told them I would not have a job to go back to in the morning.
"He got a bit verbally abusive towards myself. He mentioned my gold teeth and he said I looked like a c*** and I replied 'thank you very much'.
He said that before leaving the club area Stokes shook hands with his door supervisor colleague but he refused to do so.
Mr Cunningham added: "He mentioned my tattoos and how s*** they were.
"He just looked at me and told me my tattoos were s*** and to look at my job which he obviously wasn't happy about for keeping him out."
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Nicholas Corsellis, prosecuting, asked Mr Cunningham about Stokes's tone during the exchange and the witness replied: "Quite a spiteful tone, quite an angry tone."
Stokes' barrister Gordon Cole had earlier suggested that Mr Barry and Mr O'Connor had been "taking the mickey" out of the cricket star's shoes.
He later added that Stokes was talking to the gay men "nicely" and added: "It is not homophobic behaviour, is it?"
Jury members were also shown CCTV footage which appeared to show Stokes flick something "believed to be a cigarette" at Mr O'Connor, the court heard.
Lead investigator Danny Adams, from Avon and Somerset police, told the court: "Mr Stokes appears to mimic the actions of William O'Connor."
Yesterday, Nicholas Corsellis, prosecuting, told the jury on the opening day of Stokes' trial that both Hale and Ali needed hospital treatment after Stokes "lost control” during a brawl.
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It is claimed video footage shows Stokes pursuing Hale, who is holding his hands out in defence, before punching him in the face and knocking him out.
Mr Wilson, who videoed the incident, said the atmosphere was “confrontational” and the men “like football hooligans.”
His footage shows Ali appearing to raise a bottle and strike Mr Barry with it.
Mr Corsellis said: “Mr Stokes decides to get involved and moves towards Mr Ali, with his right arm out and throws a punch.”
The prosecutor said the incident could have finished there.
But he added: “Mr Stokes lost his control and started to attack with revenge or retaliation in mind.
“He knocked Mr Hale unconscious and then, after enough time to pause for thought, did the same to Mr Ali, who received significant injuries.
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“It was a sustained episode of significant violence that left onlookers shocked at what was taking place.”
Mr Corsellis told the jury Durham star Stokes was not acting in self-defence.
He said “Everybody except him wants it to stop.”
Mr Corsellis said on the video Ali can be heard saying “Move away, move away,” Hale yelling “Stop, Stop!” and Alex Hales urging his friend: “Stokes, that’s enough!”
The prosecutor said that what exactly happened next “only the defendants know".
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Stokes denied being “aggressive” towards Mr Cunningham — or behaving in a derogatory manner towards Mr Barry and Mr O’Connor.
He said he shared a joke with the couple but did not flick a cigarette at anyone.