Dance floor jostling led to nightclub headbutt

Attack was unprovoked, court hears

JOSTLING on the dance floor led to a brutal headbutt in a Newbury nightclub.

Jacob Jerome Sheerin initially denied assaulting James Percy.

But in the dock at West Berkshire Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, July 2, he admitted the “ferocious” attack.

Helen Waite, prosecuting, said Mr Sheerin, of Giles Road, Tadley, was with a boisterous group of friends who were jostling and bumping into each other and nearby people on the dance floor in a town centre nightclub.

She added: “There was a lot of pushing and shoving on the crowded floor.”

Mr Percy later told police: “I didn’t like it and asked them to calm down.”

When 18-year-old Mr Sheerin responded aggresively, the court heard, Mr Percy said: “Let’s all calm down. Let’s go outside for a cigarette.”

Ms Waite said: “At that point the doormen had seen all this and they told all parties to just leave. CCTV footage shows them all going downstairs towards the way out.

“Mr Sheerin is quite noticeable as he has a large collar on his shirt. At the landing area he suddenly lunges forward with his head and headbutts Mr Percy in the face.

“He then holds his hands above his head in a submissive gesture as he walks out.”

Mr Percy later told police: “His forehead struck the bridge of my nose. It was very forceful and I was shocked. There was blood all over my hands.”

As he reeled out into the night, with blood pouring from his nose, the court heard, Mr Percy pointed out his attacker to patrolling police officers.

Ms Waite said Mr Sheerin initially denied attacking Mr Percy, but changed his account once he had been shown CCTV footage of the attack, admitting: “That looks ferocious.”

Mr Sheerin admitted assault by beating on June 7 this year.

He has no previous convictions and Simon Grant, defending, described the incident as “very much out of character.”

Mr Grant added: “He was not legally represented during police interview and, it seems to me, he could’ve qualified for a caution. This was a regrettable incident fuelled by alcohol.”

He suggested there had been a degree of provocation involved but Ms Waite interjected to tell magistrates that this was not accepted by the prosecution.

Magistrates made Mr Sheerin subject to an 18 month conditional discharge.

In addition he was ordered to pay compensation of £150 to Mr Perry in lieu of a surcharge, plus a £150 criminal courts charge.

No order was made for costs