Guest list trouble ends in assault outside Kingston club

4:46pm Tuesday 13th May 2008

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If your name's not down, you're not coming in.

It is a phrase no clubber would take kindly to hearing from a bouncer.

“I was shaking your hand and we had a nice conversation, didn’t we?”

Dapo Ayodeji

But in one Surbiton man's case, his knockback at getting into the VIP area at Kingston's Oceana club landed him in hot water - and with a conviction for assault.

Kingston Magistrates' Court heard on Friday, May 9, how Dapo Ayodeji, of Ewell Road, went to the club on March 3 at 11.40pm with a friend and became "agitated" when told his name was not on the VIP list.

Maureen Spencer, prosecuting, said Ayodeyi was asked to leave the area and join the main queue but after continuing to be abusive to VIP doorman Babtunde Thomas he was refused entry from the club altogether.

The court heard Ayodeji, who works in Primark as a sales assistant, then returned to Mr Thomas and continued being aggressive before striking him.

Giving evidence, Mr Thomas said: "He was very very abusive and was shouting and swearing.

"He offered to take me on - he started taking off his bracelet, watch and jacket and said he was going to beat me up.

"He got right up into my face and then swung at me."

Ayodeji, who was representing himself, denied being abusive and hitting Mr Thomas, saying he could not understand why he was refused entry as his friend had put him on the guest list.

"I was shaking your hand and we had a nice conversation, didn't we?," he asked Mr Thomas.

Ayodeji was found guilty of assault and using threatening words and behaviour.

He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £200 costs by lead magistrate Rabbi Danny Rich.