Security Guard Acquitted of Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm 

Our client faced one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) and was acquitted at Nottingham Magistrate’s Court. 

The prosecution alleged that our client used excessive force in his capacity as a nightclub security guard when ejecting the complainant and his friend from the nightclub and subsequently causing the complainant to fall down the nightclub steps. This fall caused ABH level injuries, including a 2cm cut to the top of the complainants’ head, multiple friction burns and cuts to the rest of his body. This incident was caught by multiple angles on CCTV and had third-party witnesses from the street outside.

In addition to rigorous consideration of the evidence, detailed instructions were taken to prepare our client’s defence. Our position was that our client used reasonable force in self-defence. 

Defence preparation also included taking a statement from a staff member who assisted the complainant after his fall, discussing the club policies and procedures.  

During trial, the complainant was found to be unreliable and, on the night, was said to be aggressive, unreasonable and unsteady. We asserted this unsteadiness was the cause of his fall and injuries. The Magistrates held that a reasonable person being placed between two men, one of which was being verbally abusive, would’ve used such force and the force used was reasonable.  

Our client has been employed in the security industry for over three decades, in multiple countries. During these proceedings, our client had his Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence suspended pending the trial outcome. As a result of his acquittal, his licence is no longer at risk of being revoked and he can continue in his chosen career.  

Izzie Bond-Mills prepared this case, with Amy Cox as the solicitor with conduct. Clementine Simon of 25 Bedford Row Chambers was instructed.