Stokes: I was protecting couple

Reporter ENGLAND cricketer Ben Stokes has told a jury he stepped in after hearing two revellers shout homophobic abuse at two gay men.

The all-rounder, 27, is accused of knocking out two friends, Ryan Hale, 27, and Ryan Ali, 28, during an alleged brawl in the Clifton Triangle area of Bristol on September 25 last year.

Stokes, who plays for Durham, is standing trial at Bristol Crown Court jointly accused of affray alongside Ali.

Hale was found not guilty of the same charge by the jury on the direction of the judge yesterday.

The cricketer denied claims he mocked two gay men, Kai Barry and William O’Connor, outside the Mbargo nightclub and flicked a cigarette butt at them.

He insisted he had instead stepped in to protect Mr Barry and Mr O’Connor after hearing Mr Hale and Ali, who had a glass beer bottle, shout homophobic abuse at them.

He told the court: “Mr Hale and Mr Ali were shouting homophobic comments towards these two and... they weren’t obviously going to let them say what they were saying. I stepped in. [I said] ‘You shouldn’t take the piss because they are gay.’

“I was told by Mr Ali along the lines of ‘Shut the f*** up or I will bottle you.’

“As soon as I see Mr Ali swing the bottle at someone and physically hit them with it, that’s when I took the decision that I needed to get involved. I took a swing at Mr Ali. He had run past one of my friends, who I have known for a long time, with the bottle, attempting to hit him and then actually struck someone with the bottle.

“I was trying to stop Mr Ali from doing damage to anyone.”

Stokes told the jury that, having played a one-day international against the West Indies, he and other England players took taxis into Bristol city centre and went to the Mbargo nightclub.

The cricketer said he consumed about five or six vodka and lemonades there before leaving, then returning with Mr Hales later that evening. However, they were refused entry by door supervisor Andrew Cunningham as it was after 2am.

Stokes said the cricketers offered Mr Cunningham around £60 or £70, which was turned down.

CCTV footage appears to show Stokes flicking his cigarette butt towards the gay men but the cricketer said he could not remember doing so.

Stokes, of Stockton Road, Castle Eden, Durham, and Ali, of Forest Road, Bristol, each deny a charge of affray. The trial continues.

The jury was directed by the judge to find Ryan Hale not guilty of affray.