Notts doorman knocked out reveller in violent city centre brawl

Nicky Clifford lost control and began throwing punches in "46 seconds of unlawful conduct" outside the George Street entrance to the Lloyds No 1 bar, Nottingham, in the early hours of August 26, 2018.

The father-of-two also kneed a second man in the face and punched a third man to the floor, before stepping back from the affray which involved around 20 customers and members of staff.

Trouble was sparked when a male customer took exception to the way a woman was ejected, and another doorman was injured when he was pushed down a flight of steps into the street, prosecutor Robert Stanley-Bamford told Nottingham Crown Court, on Thursday.

Matt Hayes, mitigating, said Clifford had been employed as a doorman for nine years before the incident and "didn't seek to advance any excuse."

But he had been working long hours as a delivery driver, and as a doorman at the Company Inn, on Castle Wharf, where he had been abused and spat at by football fans, on the same day.

The incident at the Hockley Wetherspoons pub was described as "the worst behaviour from customers in three or four years" and featured threats to stab staff.

"Mr Clifford was pushed to his absolute limit," said Mr Hayes, adding he quickly realised his conduct was wrong and stepped away from the violence, only to be

threatened by a woman wielding a shoe.

Clifford, 42, of Greenwood Road, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to affray on July 11, 2019.

Judge Steven Coupland told him the incident demonstrated "a complete loss of temper," but was also "out of character."

He sentenced Clifford to eight months, suspended for 12 months, and ordered him to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £200 towards prosecution costs.

Three other people are set to be sentenced for their roles in the affray, and two more will stand trial in February.

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