News, sport and entertainment from the Bournemouth Echo and Dorset Echo.

Ex-bouncer not to blame for injuries

From the Echo, first published Thursday 25th Jan 2001.

A FORMER bouncer has walked free from court after being cleared of causing life-threatening brain injuries to a man he ejected from a night club.

Mark Ryan smiled with relief after the jury returned a "not guilty" verdict at Bournemouth Crown Court.

Speaking after the case, he refused to discuss his 10-month ordeal, but stated: "It was the right result."

The prosecution alleged Mr Ryan, a 6ft 9ins, 20-stone former head of security, injured 24-year-old clubber Michael Stamp at Bournemouth's Villa club, in Holdenhurst Road.

The prosecution said Mr Ryan had dragged Mr Stamp towards the fire exit door in a headlock and ejected him on April 9 last year.

Later the same evening Mr Stamp was taken to hospital by ambulance before being transferred to the Southampton neurological unit, where he underwent surgery to remove part of his brain.

Mr Ryan, of Howard Close, Mudeford, was charged with grievous bodily harm, but always denied his actions were responsible for Mr Stamp's condition.

The 34-year-old claimed he saw Mr Stamp engaging in a violent form of punk dancing called moshing shortly before he was ejected from the club.

He told the jury: "He was not dancing. He was pushing people away from him in a very aggressive manner."

Mr Ryan added: "I just wanted to warn him not to be so aggressive. I was trying to calm him down but it was obviously too late. I feel terrible about his injuries."

A second bouncer, Nicholas Reeves, said Mr Ryan and Mr Stamp appeared to slip on a ledge, knocking Mr Stamp unconscious.

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