MP's son guilty of nightclub attack

13 April 2012

A Tory MPs son was today found guilty of smashing a man over the head with a champagne bottle after an argument at a nightclub.

David Amess - whose father, also called David, is Conservative MP for Southend West - lashed out with the bottle at Paul Trussler after he trod on his foot.

Amess, 20, was at the Talk Club in Southend, Essex, with a group of friends, and had been trying to impress a woman when the fight broke out in the early hours of May 14.

He swung the bottle after some pushing and shoving between the two men, and 28-year-old Mr Trussler suffered a 4cm cut that required a number of staples.

A jury at Chelmsford Crown Court took just over two hours today to unanimously find Amess guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Amess went pale and swayed in the dock as the verdict was returned, and had to be helped into a chair by security guards.

The court had heard that Amess was turned away when he first tried to get into the club at around 11.30pm on May 13, and told he needed to get some form of identification.

When he returned he was admitted and given a free bottle of champagne.

Stephen Rose, prosecuting, said that trouble flared when Mr Trussler, a plumber, accidentally stood on Amess's foot as he was chatting to a woman.

Amess retaliated by pushing Mr Trussler, who was standing at the bar chatting to friends.

When Mr Trussler turned around to confront him, Amess shoved him again, leading Mr Trussler to push him back.

Mr Rose said that at this point Amess hit Mr Trussler with the bottle, and at the same time another scuffle broke out involving members of the two groups.

They were all thrown out of the club and the altercation continued outside.
Amess, who was driven off by a friend, was picked up shortly afterwards by police and arrested.

When interviewed by officers, he admitted hitting Mr Trussler with the bottle but claimed it was in self defence.

Judge Charles Gratwicke said today that he would delay sentencing Amess until January 27 so that reports could be prepared. He added: "I understand that he has had psychiatric problems." Amess was remanded in custody until January 27.

A first trial jury had to be discharged on Monday after Amess allegedly assaulted a press photographer during the lunch break.

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