Moment Ed Sheeran fan left is punched to the floor by bouncer

27 November 2023 , 14:21

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Moment Ed Sheeran fan left is punched to the floor by bouncer

The doorman of a lap dancing club was caught on video throwing a punch which broke the jaw of a passing Ed Sheeran fan who had been having an argument with his girlfriend.

Kevin Davies, 39, was on the door of For Your Eyes Only in Cardiff at 4am when he attacked music fan Michael Barraclough who was on his way home from a concert at the Principality Stadium with his girlfriend Karina Tufft. The punch caused the victim a broken cheekbone, eye socket and jaw - and was caught on CCTV. Nuhu Gobir, prosecuting, said the footage showed Davies "delivering a blindside punch to the right side of his face."

Kevin Davies, 39, was on the door of the strip bar at 4am when he set upon music fan Michael Barraclough (CPS/WALES NEWS SERVICE)

He added: “That punch immediately and forcefully sends the complainant to the floor. He grabbed the complainant’s T-shirt close to his collar with both fists and swung him around and he delivered another forceful punch, this time to the left side of the complainant’s face.

When Mr Gobir asked Mr Barraclough if he had done anything to provoke the attack, he answered: “I wouldn’t know him from Adam. I think he went steaming in and knocked me out cold. In my eyes it was an unprovoked attack.”

Davies told the police he hit Mr Barraclough in self-defence as part of a “pre-emptive strike” and claimed he stepped in to protect girlfriend Karina Tufft after claiming the victim was being “aggressive” towards her.

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Davies was convicted causing grievous bodily harm. (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

Jurors were told the couple had argued while walking down St Mary Street while looking for food after going out drinking in Cardiff city centre following the gig. Proceedings heard Davies initially pushed Mr Barraclough to the floor "with excessive force" before the two men came together and he punched him.

Miss Tufft told jurors her then boyfriend was “shouting in her face” before he was struck by Davies. She said: "I asked the bouncer: ‘What the f*** was that all about?’

"It came out of nowhere. It was unnecessary. I was so shocked.”

Footage of the assault was recorded from a camera at the neighbouring Taco Bell restaurant. Davies, of Blaenavon, Gwent, was convicted causing grievous bodily harm.

Davies was handed a 12 month suspended sentence and ordered to pay Mr Barraclough £800 compensation. Judge Recorder Sean Bradley said: "You punched him directly in the face with a very significant and clearly excessive degree of force.

"It's clear to me you seriously misjudged this situation. You rushed in to defend Miss Tufft when there was no need to. You're a big man and even if you had intended to protect Miss Tufft you clearly used excessive force."

Antony Clements-Thrower