England cricketer was ‘main aggressor’

England cricketer Ben Stokes was the “main aggressor” in a fight that took place near a nightclub, an onlooker told a court.

The 27-year-old allrounder is accused of affray in Bristol during the early hours of 25 September last year. He is alleged to have offered doorman Andrew Cunningham £300 to gain entry into nightclub Mbargo, which was refused, as it was past 2am. Stokes is said to have mocked two gay men, Kai Barry and William O’connor, outside the club before knocking out two other men they were with.

Bristol Crown Court heard evidence from offduty police community support officer Andrew Spure, who was celebrating a colleague’s leaving do at Mbargo on the night in question.

The trial continues.