STOKING THE FIRE
THE ex-squaddie who was punched unconscious by England cricketer Ben Stokes is "struggling" to work out why he was not treated as a victim.
Ryan Hale also denies hurling homophobic abuse before the nightclub brawl last September — as he speaks out for the first time today.
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He took to the dock accused of affray along with the ace bowler but did not need to give evidence as the judge ordered jurors to find him not guilty at Bristol Crown Court last Thursday.
Mr Hale, 27, got into a brawl with Stokes alongside pal Ryan Ali, 28, while leaving the Mbargo nightclub in the city shortly after 2am on 25 September.
Two gay clubbers told The Sun that "hero" Stokes, 27, came to their rescue after they were bombarded with taunts about the way they walked.
But in a statement, Mr Hale's lawyers Bobbetts Mackan said today that "it is of concern" to him that Kai Barry and William O'Connor went public with their claims — which he "passionately" denies.
Ben Stokes innocent and found NOT guilty of affray
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And he insists that he "greeted Mr O’Connor and Mr Barry in a friendly way" on the night of the brawl.
The statement added: "He does not in any way accept that there was any homophobic behaviour on his or his friend’s part.
"It is upsetting to Mr Hale that although he was acquitted, the accusation that he was the author of
such abuse remains.
"Both Mr Hale and Mr Ali were were knocked unconscious by Mr Stokes, and although Mr Stokes has been acquitted of an affray, Mr Hale struggles with the reasons why the Crown Prosecution Service did not treat him as a victim of an unlawful assault."
Hairdresser Kai, 27, told ITV's This Morning yesterday that when they left the nightclub in Clifton Triangle at 2am they had a cigarette outside with Stokes.
They laughed and joked with the sportsman about his £695 white Buscemi hi-top trainers before they walked off.
New CCTV shows England cricketer Ben Stokes 'tossing a cigarette butt at gay man before street fight'
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He said: "We walked round the corner and got followed by the two guys, and I think they said something, like a horrible remark... a homophobic remark.
"And we turned around to see what was going on and I remember Bill and the other people shouting and Ben came up the road to check I was all right.
"He called me into the middle of the road and then I get nearly attacked with a bottle, pretty much attacked with a bottle.
"If someone comes at you with a bottle you can't really not feel not threatened."
Video of incident involving England cricketer Ben Stokes outside Bristol nightclub
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Stokes, found not guilty on Monday, accepted he knocked Ali and Hale unconscious — but insisted he was acting in self-defence.
Fireman Mr Ali was also acquitted of affray following the six-day trial.
Married Stokes has since been recalled to the England Test squad to face India.
CCTV footage showed Ali waving a bottle towards Stokes's England team-mate Alex Hales before delivering a glancing blow to the shoulder of Mr Barry.
Asked whether Stokes was a hero, student William, 21, said: "Yes, definitely, I agree with that 100 per cent. He stuck up for us when we were vulnerable.
"If he wasn't there, god only knows what would have happened".
Ben Stokes innocent and found NOT guilty of affray
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