England cricketer Ben Stokes mocked two gay men, “mimicking their voices and mannerisms in a derogatory manner”, before fighting with two other men after a night out in Bristol, a court has heard.

Footage was shown that the prosecution said depicted Stokes mocking Kai Barry and William O’Connor, described as a “flamboyant, extrovert and openly gay young couple” before flicking the stub of a lit cigarette towards the head of O’Connor. Stokes, widely considered one of the best all-round cricketers in the world, also abused a doorman in a foul-mouthed tirade after being refused entry into a club, a jury was told.

Bristol crown court heard that Stokes allowed a “mist of anger” to overtake him as he later fought on the street with co-defendants, Ryan Hale, who had served in Afghanistan, and Ryan Ali, an Avon & Somerset firefighter. “This was not a moment of trivial unpleasantness, but a sustained episode of violence which left onlookers shocked,” Nicholas Corsellis, for the prosecution, told a jury of seven men and five women. All three defendants deny the charge of affray.

Wearing a navy blue suit and red tie, Stokes arrived at the court building shortly before 9am and was greeted by a throng of photographers and cameramen. There were eight police officers guarding the gate as he stepped out of a silver people carrier with blacked-out windows accompanied by his wife, Clare Ratcliffe, the mother of their two young children, and his agent, Neil Fairbrother.

It was in stark contrast with the scenes of jubilation that greeted Stokes when he played a decisive role in England’s narrow Test victory over India at Edgbaston last week. The 27-year-old helped bowl his country to a tense 31-run win, taking the key wicket of India’s star batsman, Virat Kohli. Stokes celebrated his part in the victory, which has been compared to some of the great pivotal moments in Test history, with a roar and a double fist pump in front of a 25,000 crowd.

But by 10.30am on Monday, just three days later, the former England vice-captain sat glumly in the dock of courtroom number one. He mostly stared intently as the case against him was set out but shifted uncomfortably at key moments, notably when an image was displayed on the court’s screens showing injuries sustained by Ali.

The prosecution said a fractured eye socket and a broken tooth was the result of being punched to the floor by Stokes. It was a blow allegedly witnessed by off-duty police officer Mark Spure who said he rushed over to help Ali who was unable to move and left with blood pouring down his face.

Corsellis told the court: “The violence that erupted could actually have stopped very quickly and it would have remained a relatively minor incident. But during the incident Mr Stokes lost his control and started to attack with revenge, retaliation or punishment in mind. He knocked Mr Hale unconscious and then, enough time to pause for thought, did the same for Mr Ali.”

The court heard that Stokes had arrived at Mbargo nightclub in the Clifton triangle area of Bristol at 11.31pm on Monday 25 September together with England captain Joe Root and teammates Alex Hales and Jonny Bairstow to celebrate England’s ODI victory over the West Indies that day.

Stokes and Hales left the nightclub at around 12.45am and went to another establishment but returned to Mbargo at 2.08am. The jury heard that they were refused entry because the club had stopped admitting people and that Stokes attempted to bribe his way in by offering the bouncer £60 and then £300. CCTV showed Stokes waving cash in the direction of doorman Andrew Cunningham, the jury was told. When he was again refused entry, the court heard Stokes told Cunningham: “Look at the state of your teeth,” in reference to his two gold front teeth, “they make you look like a cunt.”

Cunningham then witnessed Stokes allegedly being homophobic towards Barry and O’Connor at which point, the doorman told him: “If you want to start on anyone, start on me,” the court was told.

Stokes and Hales had not had any contact with Ali and Hale at this point despite them all being in Mbargo nightclub at various times that evening. But Corsellis said that changed after an incident captured on CCTV which appeared to show Barry touching Ali inappropriately in the groin area. Ali pushed Barry away “with no significant force” but Stokes “charged” over to the group, Corsellis said.

The court heard that a few minutes later Stokes “charged across the road” and attacked Hale and Ali.

Security camera footage showed Ali raising a bottle and motioning as if he was going to hit Stokes. Stokes and Ali grappled on the floor before Hale became involved, it is alleged. Stokes can be seen on CCTV punching Hale hard enough to knock him out, going way beyond the realms of self defence, the prosecution said.

Hales then tried to hold on to Stokes while imploring him to stop the violence, the jury heard.



Laura Sweeney, a local resident, said she woke to hear someone shouting “Stop, please stop, I’ve had enough now”. The court heard she called the police after witnessing Hale on the floor apparently seriously hurt before seeing him get to his feet and allegedly taking a leg from a three-pronged road sign and running back towards the other men.

In ordinary circumstances, Stokes would have been selected to play for England in this week’s second Test at Lord’s which begins on Thursday, but it is expected that this case could last up to seven days.