Fracas outside Mansfield pub not racially aggravated

A Mansfield man who sparked a fight outside the Stag and Pheasant pub did not shout racist abuse at a bouncer, a court has ruled.
Mansfield Magistrates CourtMansfield Magistrates Court
Mansfield Magistrates Court

Jonathan Taylor, 31, of Eakring Road, denied the racially-aggravated element of the charge, but accepted he had committed a public order offence.

George Speed, prosecuting, said Taylor was denied entry to the pub at around 11.45pm on Saturday, November 28, because doorman David Keeling thought he was too drunk.

Mr Keeling said: “He started calling me names. I asked him to move out of the way so I could carry on. He looked like he was going to throw a punch.”

He said Taylor shouted - ‘I will knock you out and that black bastard’ referring to Mr Keeling’s fellow doorman, Kieron Bramwell.

“He moved ever so slightly so I pushed him away from me,” said Mr Keeling. “He went falling backwards. His girlfriend launched herself at me. All three of us fell sideways.”

The pub’s CCTV captured the big scuffle that ensued, which saw members of the public join in and two off-duty police officers from Derbyshire restrain Taylor on the ground.

PC David Vasper told the court that Taylor was agitated and quite aggressive when he escorted him to the police van.

“He started to pull away around the time his girlfriend was being arrested. He started swinging his arms. At that point I arrested him for being drunk and disorderly. In the van he was verbally aggressive and continued to swear.”

Taylor denied using racist language and maintained he had only had three or four drinks.

Before the confrontation with Mr Keeling escalated, Taylor said: “I asked him if he was being serious. I was upset and annoyed that he had refused me entry. The doorman said something to me. I said something back to him and pointed at him. He punched me in the throat.”

He said that he lost consciousness when one of the officers ‘choked him out’.

Mr Speed said: “I say that through the lack of control Mr Taylor exhibited that night he simply lost it. I say that you can be sure those words were said because of his behaviour throughout all of this.”

Miss Thorpe said: “He accepts the public order offence but says he didn’t act until he was pushed.”

Magistrates found him not guilty of the racially-aggravated element of the charge, but concluded that he had been drunk and aggressive.

Sentencing was adjourned until May 31 for reports.

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