Ben Stokes trial: Cricketer 'flicked cigarette butt' at gay couple before Bristol brawl
The jury hears from the lead investigator as Ben Stokes denies affray after a fight in Bristol which left two men unconscious.
Wednesday 8 August 2018 09:24, UK
Cricketer Ben Stokes "flicked a cigarette butt" at a gay couple as he mocked them outside a nightclub, a court has heard.
All-rounder Stokes, 27, is accused of affray after a brawl on 25 September outside Mbargo nightclub in Clifton Triangle, Bristol.
Bristol Crown Court heard that Stokes punched Ryan Ali, 28, and Ryan Hale, 27, unconscious after "charging" at them from across the road.
Stokes claims Hale and Ali were making homophobic remarks about a gay couple and he came to their defence.
But the lead doorman at Mbargo told the court that Stokes was using "bullying behaviour" towards the couple, mimicking them as they spoke "in an extravagant way".
Andrew Cunningham also told the jury he saw Stokes flick his cigarette butt at the couple, and stepped in, saying Stokes should "start on" him instead.
He said he had refused to let Stokes and fellow England cricketer Alex Hales back into the club just after 2am, adding that they offered him money despite licensing laws forbidding entry after 2am.
The heavily tattooed bouncer said: "The ginger one [Stokes] 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."
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He said Stokes and Hales mentioned his gold teeth and said he "looked like a c***", but he "wouldn't rise to it".
Stokes told him his tattoos "were s***", he added.
CCTV footage shown to the court allegedly shows Stokes flicking a v-sign at Mr Cunningham.
However, he said he did not think Stokes had been "excessively" drinking and did not seem drunk.
The doorman said he refused to shake Stokes' hand as he walked away, which he thought "annoyed" the cricketer.
Film student Max Wilson, who lives in a flat on the triangle, filmed some of the fight after he was woken up.
He told the jury the group of six men were "clearly drunk", sounded like "football hooligans" and were "aggressive".
In the footage he is heard saying "f***", which he said was in reaction to "such a forceful punch".
Stokes, of Castle Eden, Durham; Ali, of Bristol; and Hale, of Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, each deny a joint charge of affray.
Stokes missed the Ashes after being suspended from the England team, which then lost the series against Australia 4-0.
He was reinstated and has since played in the Test series against New Zealand, Pakistan and, on Saturday, starred as England beat India at Edgbaston.
However, he will not be able to play in the second test against India at Lord's this week and next.
The trial continues.