AN Ipswich gym owner has been jailed for three years for leading a group beating at a nightclub.

AN Ipswich gym owner has been jailed for three years for leading a group beating at a nightclub.

Ian Davey, of The Oaks Gym was found guilty of unlawfully wounding Mark Lockwood at Pals Nightclub.

During the trial Ipswich Crown Court heard that Mr Lockwood had been standing at the urinal in the gent's toilets when Davey, his girlfriend Helen Hughes and a group of men confronted him.

He told police he was hit over the head with a glass bottle and then his arms were held while he was subjected to punches and kicks and hit with another bottle.

Mr Lockwood, a pub and club doorman suffered two head wounds which needed stitches and bruising.

He said Davey, 46, of Eustace Road, Ipswich, head butted him during the attack.

Andrew Shaw prosecuting said CCTV showed Davey beckoning to the group to follow him into the gents.

Mr Shaw said: “The Crown says not only was he (Davey) part of a group beating but he was the ringleader.”

No one else was charged in connection with the assault.

The court heard that Davey entered the Dogs Head Street Club on August 26, 2006 with Miss Hughes but he told police he went there alone and spent the night there alone.

The court also heard that Davey threw away his top after the incident and washed his jeans when he got home.

Judge Neil McKittrick sentenced Davey to three years in prison.

Since the attack Pals has brought in measures to make the club safer including toilet attendants with radio links to security staff.

Manager Andy Burford said: “We also search customers on the door and make sure people are not too drunk to come in.

“Our company has been in touch with Mr Lockwood.

“If justice has been done then it is a good thing.”

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