Ben Stokes cleared of affray over Bristol nightclub brawl

England cricketer Ben Stokes has been found not guilty of affray following a fight outside the Bristol nightclub where he had allegedly knocked down two men unconscious.

The 27-year-old all-rounder was accused of getting into a brawl with Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale and knocking them down during the fight in Bristol barely hours after England had defeated West Indies in an ODI last September.

Stokes denied the charge and told the Bristol Crown Court that he had been defending two gay couple who were subject to homophobic abuses from Ali and Hale. He had also claimed to have acted in self-defence against the two men after they threatened violence.

But the prosecution during the six-day trail told the court that Stokes was ‘drunk and enraged’ after being denied entry into the Mbargo Nightclub and verbally abused the doorman before also mocking the gay couple who were together outside the pub.

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The Durham all-rounder who was with fellow England international Alex Hales, got into a scuffle with Ali and Hale.

But Stokes who led England to a victory with a wonderful fourth-innings spell in the first Test against India but missed the second match because of the court hearing denied that he was drunk.

He told the jury he had stepped in to defend the two gay men who were being verbally abused and then had to defend himself from Mr Ali and Ryan Hale, who were threatening violence, reported the BBC.

The doorman of the nightclub, whom Stokes allegedly tried to bribe also accused the cricketer of insulting him in aggression before getting into an altercation with him. Footage from the CCTV cameras near the scene and mobile phone from the witness also showed Stokes punching the two defendants during the incident.

He was however, acquitted by the jury three hours later.

Ali, 28, was also found not guilty of affray while another defendant Hale was acquitted of the same charge mid-way during the trial.

Things, however, will still not come at peace for Stokes who will now face the outcome of a cricket disciplinary case, which was put on hold till the court proceedings had ended. Teammate, Alex Hales who was also present during the altercation will face the same disciplinary hearing.