Student in fancy dress attacked man in club (From York Press)

Student in fancy dress attacked man in club

8:44am Saturday 16th March 2013 in News By Megi Rychlikova, megi.rychlikova@thepress.co.uk

A STUDENT’S academic career hangs in the balance after he made the “biggest mistake of his life” in a York nightclub, a court heard.

First-year undergraduate Bradley Joseph Douglas Kelly, wearing fancy dress, broke another student’s nose and some of his teeth by head-butting him then punching him as he lay against a wall, York Crown Court heard.

Helen Wheatley, prosecuting, said the victim had been “playing the fool” by dancing behind Kelly in Mansion nightclub on December 13.

Recorder Christopher Attwooll said the attack was a “very severe over-reaction” and that Kelly had a problem controlling his temper.

He decided against jailing Kelly, of Halifax College, but ordered him to do 150 hours’ unpaid work and pay £325.55 compensation to the dancer and a £60 victim surcharge.

Kelly’s barrister, Dan Cordey, said his client would face a University of York disciplinary hearing after the case concluded.

“He is very remorseful,” the lawyer said. “He is truly a young man who has made the biggest mistake of his life, but not one he will make again.”

It had been completely out of character, he said.

Kelly, a keen rower who hopes to make a career making TV films after getting a degree in environmental geography, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm.

Ms Wheatley said the victim had not been aggressive in any way.

He was joking and dancing behind Kelly while the first-year student was texting.

Then Kelly put his phone away, turned round and head-butted the victim, who fell on to a wall.

He punched him in the face before he was pulled off him by bystanders.

The victim’s nose was now a different shape and he had chipped teeth.

Mr Cordey said Kelly had been in fancy dress and gone to Mansion with friends but had lost them.

He had been trying to find them by texting and had not intended to be antisocial.

He had not intended to injure the victim and apologised to him.