Stokes claims he defended gay pair in club row
ENGLAND CRICKETER Ben Stokes told police that two gay men thanked him for protecting them from two homophobic revellers after he became embroiled in a street brawl, a court heard.
Stokes, 27, is accused of affray in Bristol during the early hours of September 25 last year.
Bristol Crown Court heard the Durham all-rounder was the “main aggressor” in a fight that broke out between him and two other men – Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale – near a nightclub.
Images released yesterday show the injuries suffered by Ali and Hale after allegedly being attacked by Stokes hours after England beat the West Indies in a one-day international in the city.
A jury has been told Stokes mocked two gay men, Kai Barry and William O’Connor, outside the Mbargo nightclub and flicked a cigarette butt at them.
But in a statement provided to police, Stokes denied both actions and insisted he only stepped in after hearing Ali and Hale being homophobic towards Mr Barry and Mr O’Connor. He said he acted in defence of himself, England teammate Alex Hales and the two gay men at all times, adding that they thanked him for protecting them.
He told officers: “Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale were taller and broadfrom er than Kai and William. I noticed that they both had glass bottles in their hands.
“Despite the difference in their respective sizes and the fact Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale seemed to be in the mood for conflict, the pair on the receiving end of the abuse were verbally combative and sticking up for themselves.
“They weren’t shying away it but they were obviously offended by the abuse being levelled towards them. What Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale were saying was far from harmless banter, it was nasty homophobic abuse.”
The court has heard Stokes knocked Hale unconscious before doing the same to Ali a short time later.
Off-duty police community support officer Mark Spure told the court that Stokes had been the “main aggressor”. Mr Spure described seeing Stokes punch Ali with a “clenched fist” in the road. He identified Stokes to attending police officers, who arrested him. Mr Hales told the officers that he had not witnessed any of the alleged fight. Jurors have previously heard claims that Mr Hales, who was never arrested over the incident, stamped and kicked Ali as he lay on the floor.
Stokes, of Stockton Road, Castle Eden, Durham, Ali, of Forest Road, Bristol, and Hale, of Burghill Road, Westbury-onTrym, Bristol, each deny a joint charge of affray.
The trial continues.