‘Clubber knocked out cold by 17st bouncer’ – court
A CLUBGOER was “knocked out cold” in Cardiff city centre when a 17st doorman who was twice her size deliberately barged into her from behind.
Heather Morgan was left unconscious when she fell and hit her head on the pavement after being assaulted by 6ft 2in Samuel Lia as she made her way to McDonald’s.
Sentencing him at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Tom Crowther QC said: “The consequences could have been tragic.”
The court heard the incident happened at around 3am on September 5 after Ms Morgan left Live Lounge and went to get food in Queen Street with a friend.
Julia Cox, prosecuting, said the pair encountered the defendant and described him being “rude” and “aggressive”.
The court heard the women walked away but Lia continued to shout at them so Ms Morgan confronted him.
Prosecutors said there was an argument and she kicked at his shoes, which were on the floor, before walking away.
Ms Cox said: “The defendant followed her and barged her to the back. She fell backwards to the floor, hitting her head, which rendered her unconscious.”
She played CCTV of the assault in court and Judge Crowther said: “It is a very unpleasant incident.”
The court heard Lia left the scene and was later found by police in McDonald’s in St Mary Street where he was arrested at 4.30am.
Officers searched his bag and found a knuckleduster, which the defendant told them was a “belt accessory”, adding he did not realise it was there.
During his police interview Lia claimed the assault was “an accident”.
He told officers he was 6ft 2in tall and weighed 17st and said he “accidentally” pushed the woman when he went to put on his shoes and it was “bound” to cause her to fall over.
Lia, 22, from Ball Close in Llanrumney, subsequently admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon.
Sam Shepherd, defending, said his client’s best mitigation was his guilty plea and told the court he had no previous convictions, cautions, or reprimands.
He said Lia had worked as a doorman for three and a half years after aspiring to follow two uncles into the profession.
Mr Shepherd said the defendant had since been suspended under his Security Industry Authority licence and was unlikely to work as a doorman again. He was looking for a new job but had not managed to find one yet.
The court heard he went to a bar that night after finishing a shift and put smart trousers over the tracksuit he had been wearing for work.
He then got too hot and was taking the over-trousers off when Ms Morgan kicked his shoes away, which his counsel described as “provocation”.
Mr Shepherd suggested the assault happened on the spur of the moment and argued it was “reckless” but the judge said: “This was not reckless. I am quite satisfied it was deliberate.”
Lia was assessed by the Probation Service to present a low risk of reoffending and Mr Shepherd asked for any term of imprisonment to be suspended rather than immediate.
Judge Crowther found the victim was vulnerable in the sense that she could not see the push coming, as she had her back to the defendant, so was unable to do anything to protect herself.
He said: “You are twice her size and you deliberately barged into her. She was knocked out cold.”
The judge added: “The seriousness of this offending should not be underestimated. People die from single punches which result in them falling on pavements. The consequences could have been tragic.”
Lia was jailed for eight months and the judge made an order for the knuckleduster to be confiscated.