National media descend on Bristol Magistrates’ Court to see Ben Stokes

A media scrum formed outside Bristol Magistrates’ Court on a wet Tuesday morning, long cameras poised to capture a shot of England cricketer Ben Stokes.

The 26-year-old appeared in court with Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale on charges of affray following an altercation outside Clifton Triangle nightclub Mbargo on September 25 2017.

The press pack outside Bristol Magistrates’ Court

Beyond the large, glass doors, it was a lengthy process passing through security as all possessions had to be handed over for inspection and each individual was scanned with an airport-style security wand, before being allowed through into the vast building next to the city’s bus station.

Inside, shiny floors lead on to numerous court rooms and consulting rooms.

Within court room one, a whole section was taken up by reporters, each sporting a press lanyard, laptops balanced on knees and notebooks at the ready as the names of the prosecutor and defence attorneys were read out.

As the court rose for the entrance of district judge Simon Cooper, a hush fell over the room.

Stokes, Ali and Hale filed in together soon afterwards and stood to confirm their names, addresses, dates of birth and nationalities.

All three entered not guilty pleas to the charges of affray at Queen’s Road in the early hours of Monday, September 25 last year – after England had played a one-day international against West Indies at the County Ground the previous day.

Stokes, of Durham, is charged with affray and “using or threatening unlawful violence towards another” with conduct “such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for their personal safety”, the court heard.

Ali, 28, of Forest Road, Bristol, and Hale, 26, of Westbury-On-Trym, both faced the same charges. All three of the accused say they were acting in self-defence, or defence of another.

The charge of affray is an either-way offence, meaning it could be heard at either magistrates’ or crown court, but the three defendants elected to be tried by a jury at crown court.

The judge said:  “I have decided that you will be tried at the crown court at Bristol. The first hearing date will be March 12.”

Stokes, Ali and Hale were all granted bail and it didn’t take long for the crowds to file out of the room as a court official stood at the door with a handful of returned press lanyards.

Waiting for Ben Stokes to emerge from Bristol Magistrates’ Court

Outside the relative calm of the court, the wet streets were once again a buzz of activity as a scrum of (mostly) men jostled good-naturedly for position on the steps, some having headed onto the central reservation of Marlborough Street for a prime view.

Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale leave court

The wait was a cold and fairly tense one, punctuated with a brief burst of activity as Ali and Hale left the building.

“Make sure you get my good side,” said one photographer as Bristol24/7 snapped a shot of the waiting scrum.

As Stokes’ waiting car circled round to pull up outside the court, there was a renewed buzz in the air.

And as the all-rounder (who last month was bought for £1.4m in the Indian Premier League auction) ventured outside, flanked on all sides by security personnel, it was every man for himself.

Our intrepid photographer at the scene managed to capture this photo of Stokes heading into a waiting car outside court

The jostling crowd of photographers moved as one, cameras clicking as they fought for a good shot of Stokes, who wasn’t hanging around. Limbs flew in all directions as the scrum was forced to part and let the ginger-haired sportsman through.

With a couple of last snaps of his car pulling away, it was over in a few seconds and calm resumed once more.

Following the court appearance, the England & Wales Cricket Board released a statement saying: “Having entered his plea at Bristol Magistrates’ Court today, Ben Stokes will now travel to New Zealand to join the England squad.

“He departs on Wednesday (February 14) and will arrive on Friday, February 16, ready to train with England team mates in Hamilton.

“Any decision to include him in upcoming matches will be made by head coach Trevor Bayliss and the England management team. He is not currently being considered for the ongoing International T20 Tri-Series.

“ECB fully respects his right to defend himself in court and any obligations he has within the legal process will always take precedence over England commitments.

“It has been confirmed that he will not be required to return to the UK for the first hearing at Bristol Crown Court on Monday, March 12.”