Ex- special cop is found not guilty

Lee, 30, is just glad it’s all over

A housing officer accused of breaking a bouncer’s finger during a vicious bar brawl has walked free from court.

Former special police constable Lee Oakes, 30, ended up rolling on the floor fighting with Harleys’ bouncer Robert Young.

Ayr Sheriff Court heard how stewards were “out of control” during the violent row.

South Ayrshire Council employee Oakes denied deliberately twisting Mr Young’s pinky until it snapped during a trial last week.

Depute fiscal Hayley Robertson, prosecuting, said: “The accused grabbed his hand and twisted it. This was consistent with the doctor’s diagnosis. Mr Young said it was 100 per cent deliberate. It wasn’t an accident.”

But Oakes, of Masonhill, Ayr, claimed Mr Young’s finger was fractured accidentally as they wrestled on the floor.

The fiscal argued that Oakes launched a nasty second attack at the door of the town centre pub - resulting in the finger injury.

He was grabbed by the bouncer after being asked to leave - and the violent skirmish kicked off on August 16 last year.

Lawyer Peter Lockhart told the jury “some of the stewards were out of control.”

Mr Lockhart continued: “Mr Young accepts he became physically involved,” and “had his arm around his neck and was rattled.”

Earlier the trial heard bar worker Shelley Passmore was forced to rush outside for help because she felt the stewards had “lost control of the situation,” Mr Lockhart said.

Oakes’ brother Jonathan was kicked by another steward Mark Leggett that night who was convicted of the attack.

Mr Lockhart said: “They are a licensed bar but it is not a licence to assault people, which is what happened that night in the bar.”

He described his client as a “decent man” of “good character” who had left the bar of his own accord after Mr Young got hurt.

The steward now has difficulty grabbing objects and has a permanent disfigurement - with his pinky deviating from the other fingers.

But Oakes defiantly denied twisting Mr Young’s fingers to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment.

After just 20 minutes of deliberation, the jury returned a not guilty verdict.

Oakes, of Cedar Road, spoke of his relief after the result. He told the Post: “I’m just glad it is all over. It has been a hellish few months.”