TWO men broke another man’s jaw in a “shocking and vicious” attack after he made advances on one of their girlfriends in the middle of a packed nightclub.
Antonio Gois was celebrating his 21st birthday at Halo in Bournemouth town centre with his girlfriend and friend Louis Strangeway, then aged 19, when another clubgoer began talking to Gois’ girlfriend.
Bournemouth Crown Court heard how the victim, who suffers from “social processing difficulties”, approached the woman and began speaking to her.
CCTV footage played to the court showed the victim trying to kiss Gois’ girlfriend, but she turned her head.
Moments later, the court saw Gois lunge towards his victim and punch him repeatedly in the face – causing him to reel backwards.
Gois continued punching the man, at which point Strangeway joined in by also punching him in the face and head.
Club security staff soon intervened and separated the men. Several minutes later, in a corridor of the club, Gois again came across the victim and punched him in the face twice more, the court saw.
Julian Winship, prosecuting, said the victim suffered two fractures to his jaw and required surgery as a result of the “serious violence” on November 23, 2021.
Gois, 22 and of Fulham Palace Road in London, and Strangeway, 21 and of Tower Street in Winchester, both pleaded guilty to affray.
Defence barristers Lucy Conroy and Gemma White representing Gois and Strangeway respectively both asserted their clients were “truly remorseful” for their actions and were unaware of the victim’s social difficulties.
“[The kiss] was the tinder box moment,” Ms Conroy said. “The sexual advance is what ignites the situation. Of course, a now sober Mr Gois is heartily ashamed.
“He is not a young man who goes out looking to get into trouble, in fact that is the antithesis of the man I’ve been dealing with. I have no doubt he will not appear in the courts again.”
Judge Susan Evans KC described the incident as “a really shocking and appalling piece of alcohol-fuelled violence” and, while recognising the attack was in response to advances made towards Gois’ girlfriend, she found the reaction “out of all proportion”.
Strangeway was jailed for 12 months and Gois for 14 months, however, both sentences were suspended for two years. Strangeway and Gois must also carry out 150 and 200 hours of unpaid work respectively.
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