Stokes denies ‘exaggerating’ claims that two men were homophobic
England cricketer Ben Stokes denied “exaggerating” claims that two men were being homophobic to two gay clubbers before he knocked them unconscious near a nightclub.
The 27-year-old all-rounder insisted he had intervened to stop Ryan Ali, 28, and Ryan Hale, 27, from abusing gay men William O’connor and Kai Barry.
Ali allegedly replied “F*** off or I’ll bottle you” and swung a beer bottle at Stokes’s England team-mate Alex Hales before delivering a glancing blow to Mr Barry’s shoulder.
Giving evidence for a sec- ond day, Stokes said he could not remember the words used by Ali and Mr Hale when they were abusing the gay men near the Mbargo nightclub on Clifton Triangle, Bristol, on 25 September last year. He told the jury of six men and six women: “I can’t remember the specific words used, but the manner in which Mr Hale and Mr Ali were speaking towards the two gentlemen was homophobic abuse.
“The temperature obviously rose as I started to intervene with what the two guys were saying towards Mr Barry and Mr O’connor.”
“Mr Barry and Mr O’connor were shouting back at Mr Hale and Mr Ali.”
Stokes, of Stockton Road, Castle Eden, Durham, and Ali, of Forest Road, Bristol, each deny a charge of affray.
The trial will continue on Monday.