Stringfellows director has teeth broken but defendants cleared

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Two brothers have been cleared of breaking the teeth of a Stringfellows director in a drunken an brawl.
Toby and Jack Burgess were accused of subjecting Paul Lewis to a severe beating after the trio were thrown out of the famous London club.
The London Evening Standard reported that Lewis told Southwark Crown Court how the fight had left him with broken incisors, a fractured eye socket and extreme bruising. The director said he had to have 12 stitches from the inside to the outside of his mouth.
However, surveyor Jack, 25, and Monaco-based property developer and investor Toby, 35, claimed that Lewis was the aggressor and that they were defending themselves.
The Jury believed the brothers’ testimony and the pair were cleared.
Jack Burgess was exonerated of the charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm on March 6 this year, while Toby was acquitted of committing assault by beating.
Lewis’s lawyer, Peter Zinner, told the court how the Burgess’ “drink-fuelled” attack was motivated by revenge for being kicked out of Stringfellows.
The supposed conflict began when Lewis “declined the persistent attentions” of a club dancer. Pushing apparently ensued and then bouncers removed the trio from the club.
Lewis then told the court that he did not remember anything more about the night and awoke injured in hospital.
His lawyer said eyewitnesses and CCTV footage showed his client being pinned to a fence and struck repeatedly. He eventually was said to of slumped to the floor.
Despite these claims the Burgess’ protested their innocence. With Jack calling a range of character witnesses which included his housemaster from school, several businessmen and England international rugby player James Haskell.
The younger of the brothers told the court a “small, blonde Polish dancer” had invited him to dance but an agitated Lewis approached him, insulted him and the dancer, before punching him four times in the face.
Toby said he saw a minimum of six punches from Lewis hit his brother.
The surveyor then told jurors when he got outside he had decided to strike Lewis first because he believed the club director might have a knife and was frightened for his safety.
His brother said he originally tried to be a peacemaker but became involved to protect himself and his brother.
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