A JURY has returned its verdict in the case of a former firefighter and bouncer from Walney who admitted knocking a man unconscious after intervening in a domestic.  

Derrick John Gawne appeared before Barrow Crown Court yesterday and today accused of one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The 44-year-old, of Vicarage Mount, Walney, denied the charge, claiming he acted in self-defence and only threw one punch not the two claimed.

Mr Michael Murray, prosecuting, said: "The incident took place in Cavendish Street, Barrow, in the early hours of September  7, 2015.

"Steven Jones had been out for the evening with his girlfriend Stacey Wilson and friends and became involved in an argument. They were both very drunk.

"The defendant, who is a doorman at Hollywood, was off duty. He and Mr Jones became involved in an argument of their own. He punched Mr Jones twice to the head and he fell unconscious to the ground and one of his teeth was knocked out.

"The incident was captured on CCTV and the defendant was arrested. He told police he was acting in self-defence and only hit Mr Jones once."

Mr Jones, 28, of Mount Pleasant, Barrow, was cautioned by police for his part in the fracas.

The court was told yesterday that he had no memory of the incident. He was not called to give evidence but his police statement was read out to the jury of eight men and four women.

Mr Murray added: "He said he had got involved in a silly argument with Miss Wilson because she wanted to go home. The next thing he remembered was being in handcuffs and his head hurting. He was taken to hospital and had stitches put into the roof of his mouth and later had to have the tooth put back in."

In a statement read to the court, PC Anthony Johnson said it was about 12.10am when they turned into Cavendish Street in a marked police vehicle.

Reading from the account, Mr Murray said: "He said he saw the couple and a male who he recognised as Des Gawne because he was a bouncer at Hollywood public bar. Mr Jones's face was covered in blood and he had blood coming from his mouth. The defendant told him he had gone over because Mr Jones was pushing and shoving his girlfriend."

Taking the witness stand to give evidence, Gawne said he and a doorman had been chatting and he saw Mr Jones hit his girlfriend.

He said: "She was screaming and lying on the floor. I went over and he shouted and swore at me asking what I was doing. I said I was concerned for the female as I had seen him hit her several times. He asked me to say it again and I did.

"He put down the items he had in his hands and shoved me in the chest. In self-defence I punched him once in the jaw with my right hand. I did it because I thought it was going to escalate into a big brawl."

He told the court he then called 999 for an ambulance and police.

The jury retired mid-afternoon yesterday and this lunchtime returned a verdict of not guilty.