Attacked by former bouncer

A WESTON man who was followed home and attacked by a former bouncer in Weston has told the Weston & Somerset Mercury how he has been too afraid to leave his home.

Carl Hart, aged 21, of Milton Road, was attacked by Phillip Hicks outside his former home in Orchard Street on November 25.

Hicks followed Carl home after an altercation at Destiny nightclub in Beach Road earlier that evening and punched him in the neck and nose.

The father-of-one said: “I put my key in the door and was punched in the neck from behind. I must have blacked out because I don’t remember much else except my mate bringing me round. I must have crawled up the stairs to my flat, where he found me.”

Carl’s friend called an ambulance and he was taken to St Michael’s Hospital in Bristol where they stitched up his nose and neck.

Carl, who worked as a self employed roofer at the time, said: “I’ve had really bad depression and have been on medication. I have panic attacks and I wouldn’t go out for about three months. I’ve still got scars on my face and neck. I can’t believe he only got 18 months.”

Carl had to give up his job due to depression but started work again last week with temping agency Icon.

Hicks, of no fixed abode, had a previous conviction for manslaughter and was jailed for 18 months for assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Bristol Crown Court.

Since the assault, Destiny’s security firm, 1st Point Security, has reassured revellers it is not hiring doormen with recent criminal convictions. The company says 39-year-old Hicks did work for 1st Point Security but only in an administrative role. Hicks was sacked when the assault charge was revealed.

Co-managing director Gino Barontini said: “Hicks gave us a hand with some menial work in the office but never worked as a doorman. He could not work as a doorman because he was unable to obtain a Security Industry Authority (SIA) badge because of his previous conviction. We would not employ anyone who did not have an SIA badge.”