Preston North End footballer Jordan Storey said he acted in “proportionate” self-defence when he pushed a supporter in a nightclub.
The 27-year-old is standing trial accused of affray and causing actual bodily harm in relation to an incident in Popworld last year which ended with 20-year-old Tomas Watmough suffering a fractured tooth.
On day one, the prosecution argued that Storey caused those injuries by punching Mr Watmough in response to a verbal argument between the pair and involving other men.
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However, under questioning Storey denied throwing any punch and instead said he pushed him back after being threatened with a headbutt.
Storey, who had drunk “a few pints of cider” during the night, said there had been a “heated discussion” going on but he had initially stayed back until being told that Mr Watmough had threatened him.
He said: “I went over there to find out why he said what he said. There was a lot of the conversation which I can’t recall but I told him at the end he wasn’t going to headbutt me. He said “do you wanna bet?”.
Storey insisted he only pushed Mr Watmough with “reasonable” and “proportionate” force but accepted that he may have ripped his shirt by pulling it with his left hand and he pushed him with his right.
He described Mr Watmough as “cocky” and “smug” throughout their interaction and insisted he believed that he would follow through on the threat.
“He was quite cocky. Because of the job I did, I think he thought he could take the mick.
“I was worried he was going to act on his threat. I didn’t want to end up with a broken nose so I acted first, I think with reasonable force. The last thing I wanted was to go out in Preston and end up in trouble.”
Before Storey was brought up to the stand, Mr Watmough was cross-examined by Mike Stephenson who argued the entire incident had been started by him taking photographs of Storey and then issuing the headbutt threat.
In response, Mr Watmough said: “It’s just something I wouldn’t say. It’s not in my nature.”
He added: “I personally don’t remember taking any photographs but if they were taking photographs and they’ve come over to tell me to stop, I don’t know where they’ve this headbutt threat because why would anyone threaten to do that?”
Under questioning, Mr Watmough conceded that rather than a punch, he may have been pushed by Storey and that the footballer’s hand followed through to land on his face and cause the fractured tooth.
He said he remained sure that his injuries were caused by Storey and not by another man who was seen in CCTV footage appearing to land punches on him seconds later.
“We’re also talking about a professional athlete who trains if not every day then most days of the week so he’s a very strong individual. He’s a lot more forceful than someone like me.”
Before sending the jury to consider its verdict, Judge Robert Altham said that if the jury did not believe Storey was guilty of causing actual bodily harm, it could also consider a lesser charge of common assault instead. It also could find him not guilty of that offence.
The affray charge related to the alleged use of unlawful violence.
Proceeding
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