Bouncer avoids jail after grabbing clubber by the throat (From Surrey Comet)

Bouncer avoids jail after grabbing clubber by the throat at Kingston nightclub

9:00am Friday 10th February 2012 in Kingston

A bouncer who attacked a partygoer who he suspected of carrying drugs has avoided a jail term.

Doorman Dean Springer pushed Adam Tang into Bacchus nightclub, grabbed him by the throat and pinned him to the ground after feeling something in the 23-year-old’s pocket.

During the assault, in which a metal detector arch smashed to the ground, two other bouncers helped pin down Mr Tang before asking him what was in his pocket, which was the bodybuilding supplement Creatine.

The 33-year-old admitted Mr Tang was no great threat and his own behaviour looked dangerous on CCTV footage of the incident in Union Street, Kingston, on July 24 last year.

Springer, from Mitcham, was found guilty of assault by beating and was given a conditional discharge at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on February 2.

During sentencing, District Judge Sheena Bayne told Springer: “You have a very, very good record. I have seen very many favourable references for you and I can tell at all time in your employment you have acted professionally.

“I am going to take an unusual course of action and sentence you to conditional discharge for 24 months.”

Springer, who lost his job when the allegations were made, was also ordered to pay £300 in costs.

During the trial, Springer said Mr Tang, who had not been drinking and was out with his two cousins, could have prevented the incident by telling him he had the capsule in his pocket from the start.

The court heard Mr Tang was compliant with the routine searches at the Kingston club but needed to be asked to lift his hands higher.

Springer said: “He was reaching into his pocket, it’s a little bit of a threat isn’t it, not a great threat. The level of force used on him looked dangerous, it looks bad.”