News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A young woman punched unconscious by a man in a sickening video says she was knocked out for five minutes after she stepped in to protect other women.

The 18-year-old claims the man who attacked her was insulting other women by calling them "fat c****" as people were gathered outside Faces nightclub in Gants Hill, east London.

The woman has told how she was left covered in blood and the only thing she can remember "is being on the floor".

She was hit with two devastating blows by a fellow clubber who was identified by his mum as 20-year-old Liam Holmes.

(Image: Facebook)

Footage of the woman being knocked out in the early hours of Saturday went viral after it was posted on Facebook .

Met Police are treating the incident as actual bodily harm.

The woman claims she intervened to help a group of girls who were being backed into a corner by two men who threatened to hit them.

(Image: Facebook)

She told the Sun: “This guy was going round calling the women outside the club ‘fat c****'.

“I told him he was in the wrong and he needed to walk away and be a gentleman and he lashed out.

“I was knocked out for five minutes. All I remember is being on the floor with blood everywhere."

The woman said she suffered cuts inside her mouth and bruising, and she was given a head scan after being taken to hospital.

She claims the same man had kicked her friend several times, leaving her bruised.

Holmes, from the Isle of Dogs in east London, was taken to Ilford police station by his own mum on Tuesday to speak to police about the incident which happened around 3am on Saturday.

A nine-second video clip shows the woman and Holmes standing just inches apart as they exchange inaudible words.

Holmes, wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans, has his hands clasped in front of him and is heard saying "one more time" before he smashes his right fist into the woman's face.

(Image: Facebook)

She stumbles backwards and then takes a step towards Holmes, who then delvivers the knockout blow.

The woman, wearing a black top and blue jeans, falls backwards and crashes onto the pavement, where she is left sprawled and unconscious as witnesses scream in horror.

One witness is heard screaming "oh my god" as another holds her hands over her mouth in shock.

A different woman claims Holmes had pestered her for her phone number that night and he was angry when she refused to give it to him.

She told MailOnline: "He confrontational and verbally abusive when I refused to give him my number. Luckily I was with a large group of friends so it didn’t escalate the way it potentially could have.

"His mother is saying he was provoked but I certainly didn’t provoke him and I think I speak for all young woman out there when I say it’s outrageous that we can face such a threat by simply telling someone no."

Holmes' mother Cathy, 53, who took him to Ilford police station, defended her son, who lives with her in east London.

She told MailOnline he is "no terror" and the video only shows a portion of the entire incident.

She said her son cares for her after she suffered a brain haemorrhage, adding: "The clip online showing him hitting the girl makes him look bad but that's only a fraction of the real story. He wouldn't do that for no reason."

(Image: Facebook)

The mum claims the police have obtained CCTV footage of the entire incident.

Tony Bee, one of Faces' owners, told the Ilford Recorder that the incident happened about 50 yards from the club and 30 minutes after it had closed for the night.

He said his staff were told about the injured woman and they assisted her.

He added: “I have been doing this job since the 70s and I have not seen anything like it before."

Mr Bee confirmed that both people involved in the incident were inside the club earlier, but there were no signs of any trouble until they had left and were outside.

He said Faces scans IDs when patrons enter the venue, and management had passed the man's information on to police.

A Met Police spokesman said: "A 20-year-old man has been interviewed under caution in connection with an alleged assault after attending an east London police station voluntarily today, Tuesday, July 31.

"He was subsequently released under investigation.

"The alleged incident, which is being treated as actual bodily harm, took place outside Faces nightclub on Cranbrook Road, Redbridge, IG2, at 3am on Saturday, July 28.

"The female victim was taken to hospital for treatment, and subsequently discharged.

"Enquiries continue."