Bouncer jailed for body slamming punter

20 January 2014, 17:18 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A bouncer who "body-slammed" a Mansfield reveller during a festive night out has been jailed.

George 'Mason' Fessey, of Oak Tree Court, in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, was working on the door at After Dark nightclub, in Clumber Street, at around 11.45pm on Saturday 29 December 2012.

His victim had tried to get back into the club after leaving with friends. Fessey intervened in a scuffle before lifting the 20-year-old above his head and throwing his body to the ground, the left side of his head taking most of the impact. He was left in a coma after the attack and continues to receive treatment for his head injury, which he will be affected by for the rest of his life.

Fessey (pictured) had been on trial accused of intending to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH), but a jury did not believe he meant to cause the injury. The 25-year-old, who had previously pleaded guilt to causing GBH without intent, was today (Monday 20 January 2014) sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court. He received a two-year jail term. 

Detective Inspector Phil Sims, of Mansfield CID, said: "This was a classic case of adrenaline-fuelled violence and bravado, leading to a massive over-reaction and use of unnecessary force by one man against another who was half his size. 

"It's never a fair fight between someone who can lift a person above his head and body-slam him to the ground. 

"George Fessey left his victim in the absolute lowest level of consciousness before death, he's fortunate to have come out of it as well as he has. 

"Not only was it a traumatic, life-altering ordeal for the victim, there were also a number of people who witnessed this, frankly stomach-churning, incident. It's fair to say it brought an abrupt end to their festive celebrations. 

"Doormen are supposed to ensure the safety of customers and diffuse potentially problematic and violent situations. Fessey did the opposite. He was the problem, failing to see the boundaries of reasonable action. 

"We patrol Mansfield town centre as a matter of course during the evenings and had officers nearby that night. If Fessey had simply called us instead of taking the law into his own hands this whole incident could have been avoided."