A DOORMAN who was put on trial for punching and kicking a reveller whilst on duty has been cleared.

Edward Harrop, of Wimborne Close, Darlington was found not guilty by magistrates of causing fear or provocation of violence.

David Carmichael, prosecuting, said Mr Harrop was working as a door supervisor for the Boot and Shoe public house on Church Row, Darlington, on the evening of Wednesday, October 12.

He said: “A gentleman was ejected from the building because of his unacceptable behaviour. Following that he has turned to door staff and told them he would stab them up.

“Both Edward Harrop and another doorman are seen on CCTV leaving the pub and walking towards the graveyard at St Cuthbert’s Church with the gentleman who had made threats.

“Mr Harrop then punches him and kicks him to the chest, causing him to fall to the floor.

“He is then seen walking away from the gentleman who is laid on the ground, before he is handed back his SIA door badge from his colleague.”

Nick Woodhouse, defending Mr Harrop, said the 36-year-old was of good character and had no previous convictions apart from a drink-driving incident in 2002.

He said: “Mr Harrop is not a violent man, he maintains that he was doing his job.

“There was no celebration afterwards, he simply walks away after the threat is neutralised in his eyes and he walks back to the public house.”

Mr Harrop said: “I did not go to work on that Wednesday evening intending to end up in a graveyard with a man who was threatening to open me up.

“I go to work to earn money for my family.

“I had never seen the gentleman before, I got to work just after 8pm and could see straight away he was being boisterous.

“Staff asked me to make him leave and I tried talking with him for ten minutes or so but he wasn’t listening.

“He was threatening to stab people, I didn’t know if he had a knife and I just wanted him away from the front of the pub as quickly as possible.

“I took my badge off because I thought it might make him think twice about what he was doing, but it didn’t, he didn’t back down.

“I put him to the floor and diffused the situation. Nobody got stabbed that night and I went home to my daughter in one piece.”

Chair of the bench Paul Elliott said: “After watching the CCTV and listening to all of the evidence we believe that Mr Harrop was carrying out his duty as a doorman to protect customers.

“This bench believes his actions were proportionate to the fact that he feared for his safety and that of others.

“There is one punch and a forceful shove and as soon as the gentleman’s hands go to his head Mr Harrop stops. The case is dismissed.”