Bouncers in court

A NIGHTCLUB doorman from Bishopstone was among three bouncers who allegedly punched and kicked a reveller after throwing him out of Seaford's Trek 2 nightclub on Christmas Eve, a court heard.

Kevin Harlow, 30, Nicola Soncini, 30, and Scott Jameson, 32, are accused of dragging Gareth Prothoro out of the club and attacking him.

The three each deny assault occasioning actual bodily harm on Mr Prothoro, who suffered facial injuries after the alleged attack last year.

A jury at Hove Crown Court heard Mr Prothoro had seen some of the door staff in the John Silver pub on Christmas Eve.

The jury were told that some of the door staff had been dressed as Santa Claus and one had given him permission to go to the Trek 2, even though he had previously been banned.

Prosecutor Jeffrey Lamb said Mr Prothero was allowed in the club but after some time trouble started.

'It may or may not have become clear how this started. Mr Prothoro is effectively ejected from the club through a side door.

'The Crown say what was happening was these three men were dragging him across the floor and kicking him, punching him to the chest and the head area.

'There was a party of four people coming through the gated area intending to get to the club. They all saw what was going on.'

Mr Lamb said all three men admitted they were involved in ejecting Mr Prothero but denied assaulting him.

Mr Prothoro told the court he had gone to the club, paid the entry fee and went to get a drink.

'I didn't have enough money on me to buy the drinks so my friend had to help me out. I was jumped on again by the bouncers and taken through a side door.

'I didn't get a proper look because I was being punched at that time. I was being struck in the head, right on my forehead.

'I had fallen to the floor and it's quite vague from there. I think I lost consciousness and I came to on the side of the road.'

Soncini, of Gibbon Road, Newhaven; Jameson, of Abergavenny Road, Lewes and Harlow, of St Andrew's Drive, Bishopstone, all deny assault.

The trial continues.