CRICKET ACE BEN: I WAS TALKING TO GOD
Stokes denies bouncer rant HUGH IN JAWS PLEA
TELLY chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is backing a campaign to boost the image of the Great White Shark.
He reckons films such as Jaws and years of sensational headlines have hampered conservation efforts. And the creatures face being wiped out if they continue to be persecuted.
The star of River Cottage, who is supporting the Bite-Back charity for marine conservation, said: “Sharks are getting a bad press they don’t deserve.”
BEN Stokes was “talking to God” before he knocked two men unconscious in a bloody rampage outside a nightclub, a court heard.
The cricketer was accused of kicking off when he was refused entry to the Mbargo club during a boozy night in Bristol on September 25 last year.
Prosecutor Nicholas Corsellis said CCTV footage showed the Durham all-rounder aggressively shouting at a bouncer before the street brawl.
But Stokes told jurors at Bristol Crown Court he was not being abusive, but was simply “looking up at the night sky”.
Mr Corsellis said: “Who were you speaking to when you were looking at the night sky?” Stokes replied: “God?” The 27-year-old is accused of knocking out fireman Ryan Ali, 28, and ex-squaddie Ryan Hale, 27, and hurling homophobic slurs at two gay revellers.
He admitted downing Jagerbombs and having at least 10 drinks while celebrating England’s win over the West Indies.
However he denied being
“really very drunk”.
Stokes said “all of his actions were in selfdefence” and that he reacted because he was “fearing for his safety” after Ali ran at England batsman Alex Hales, 29, with a bottle.
And he insisted he was defending William O’Connor and Kai Barry after he heard Ali and Mr Hale “taking the p***” out of them “for being gay”.
“He was aggressive and violent towards me but he was definitely verbally aggressive with Mr Barry and Mr O’Connor,” said Stokes.
“It’s clearly in my statement that I admit to throwing multiple punches.
“At the time of that situation, I constantly felt under threat from Mr Ali.”
The former England vicecaptain denied he was on a “mission” to get drunk.
Stokes and Ali stand accused of affray – co-defendant Mr Hale was cleared on Thursday.
The trial continues.