11:00am Wednesday 19th November 2008
By Nigel Freedman
A politician told a court he was shocked at seeing two rival bar owners grappling during a bust-up at Brighton’s “gay Oscars”.
Prospective Labour candidate for Brighton Kemptown, Simon Burgess, was at the ceremony to present Golden Handbag awards to some of the city’s top gay clubs and personalities.
Mr Burgess, who was there with the mayor and the leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said he saw Simon Thompson holding Sharon Barr by the throat halfway through the glittering event at the Hilton Brighton Metropole on March 23.
He said: “I cannot overemphasise the anger I saw in his eyes.
“He was very fired up and was gripping this person around the throat.
I could see his fingers pressing into the neck.”
Mr Burgess, former leader of the city council, said: “The evening was to celebrate the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) business community’s achievements.
“I was shocked and completely taken aback by the violence I saw.”
Thompson, owner of the White Horse pub in Kemp Town, is alleged to have assaulted Sharon Barr, who owns Zone Bar in nearby St James’s Street, and two of her staff.
The bar and manager Rachel Midgely were nominated for Golden Handbag awards in the best cabaret bar and best barmaid categories.
Thompson is said to have grabbed Miss Midgely around the throat and to have punched barman Derek Timms when he tried to intervene.
Miss Barr told Brighton magistrates he kicked her in the shin in the hotel foyer and called her a “lesbian bitch”
when she later saw him as she returned to her bar.
Thompson denied assaulting Miss Barr or her staff and told police he was the one who had been assaulted at the Golden Handbags.
He also denied calling her a “lesbian bitch” and said he would not make homophobic remarks because he is gay.
He told investigating officers: “I called her a leprechaun bitch because that is her nickname.
“It is what everyone round here calls her.
“I don’t know if it is because she is Irish or not but she looks like a cross between Ronnie Corbett and a leprechaun.”
Thompson, of Camelford Street, Brighton, was yesterday acquitted of one charge of assaulting Miss Barr after David Packer, prosecuting, offered no evidence.
He denies three more charges of assaulting her and her staff and one of threatening behaviour.
The trial continues.
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