Mum fined after attacking bouncer
A young mother has admitted punching a bouncer after he apparently mistook her brother's paralysis for drunkenness.
Rosie Smith, 30, of Tunbridge Wells, was out celebrating her birthday in September when her brother was refused entry to The Havelock Pub.
She pleaded guilty to hitting doorman Alfred Pepper in the face when she appeared at Hastings Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.
Mark Kately, prosecuting, said: "She objected to the way her brother had been treated and intervened because her brother was pushed back and ended up on the floor.
"She struck the doorman near his right eye causing some bruising."
But Andrea Watts, defending, said the mother of three was acting to protect her brother.
"She was out with a group celebrating her birthday and was in The Havelock when she heard her brother had not been allowed in.
"The bouncer seemed to think he was drunk but he got a neck injury some time ago when he was involved in a car accident and that left him partially paralysed down one side.
"He walks with a limp and his speech can be affected but he was not drunk as he had only had a couple of drinks.
"She went outside to see what was happening.
"Mr Pepper pushed her brother and he fell back, and she feared the bouncer was moving towards her brother again, so she stepped in.
"She accepts that by leaving him with bruising she stepped beyond the line of self defence, but perhaps the court can understand why she did what she did.
"In my submission there was a degree of provocation."
Smith is a full time carer for her son who suffers from fits, the court heard, and magistrates fined her 50 and ordered her to pay 50 costs.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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