Drunk involved in altercation with bouncers was just '˜playing around', court told

Rhys Aaron Bell, 20, was ordered to pay a total of £245 by magistrates after he admitted being drunk and disorderly on Buxton Market Place.

Jennifer Fitzgerald, prosecuting, said a police officer had been on his way to work when he passed the defendant on the ground outside a takeaway being held down by a number of bouncers, at about 9.40pm on February 6.

The court heard Bell, who had been drinking, was shouting and swearing and had previously lashed out.

“That was borne out by CCTV footage,” said Ms Fitzgerald. “The defendant was seen throwing punches in the direction of another male who pushed him away, and the defendant was quickly restrained by bouncers.

“By the time the officers arrived he was agitated and shouting and swearing, despite requests to calm down.”

Bell, who represented himself in court, said he had been leaving a public house when a bouncer had made a comment to him, which he had reacted to.

He said he had been ‘playing around’ and that it had been another bouncer from another premises that had intervened and pinned him to the ground.

“I got pinned down and I did swear and stuff like that,” he admitted.

Bell, of Solomon’s Court, Harpur Hill, was fined £140, ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 government surcharge.