England cricketer Ben Stokes mocked a gay man and threw a cigarette butt at his head before knocking two men unconscious in a fight outside a nightclub in Bristol, a jury heard. The all-rounder is accused of punching Ryan Hale, 27, to the ground and then allegedly knocking out Ryan Ali, 28, a short time later. Stokes, Hale and Ali are jointly accused of affray — a charge they all deny — and are on trial at Bristol Crown Court.

Nicholas Corsellis, prosecuting, described Stokes as being "provocative and offensive" and in an "angry state of mind" before the alleged fight. The sportsman had been in Bristol, staying in a hotel with the England cricket team, and was in the Mbargo nightclub from about 11:30 pm on September 24. He left the club with teammate Alex Hales at 12:46 am, with the pair returning and trying to re-enter at 2:08 am. Jurors were told Mbargo, as part of its licencing conditions, is unable to allow entry to additional customers after 2 am.