Racist thugs James Martin and Drew Hennerbry jailed for brutal attack on doorman outside V Bar

James Martin, of Marine Parade East, Clacton, and Drew Hennebry of Spruce Avenue, Colchester, were found guilty of knocking out a doorman outside V Bar in Colchester High Street with a torrent of punches and kicks while screaming vile racist abuse.

The incident began when Martin punched customer Joe Morley, the boyfriend of a barmaid working at the venue.

Another member of bar staff, Paige Small, attempted to diffuse the situation and she was hit in the face by Hennerbry, but she believed the strike to meant for somebody else.

The member of door staff Kazeen Gbaja bundled Hennebry and Martin out of the emergency exit into Museum Street. They then began attacking him until he was left unconscious and screamed racist insults.

Martin, 23, was sentenced to 41 months in prison following a trial when a jury found him guilty of racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm, affray, assault and criminal damage after a fire door was damage in the incident.

Hennebry, 20, was given a two-year jail term after being found guilty of racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm, affray and assault.

A third man, Jack Monteith of Harwood Close, Colchester, joined the attack on Mr Gbaja.

He was found guilty of assault and will appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on February 2 after a pre-sentence report is prepared.

Attempts had been made to get charges against Monteith dismissed but Judge David Turner QC rejected the application.

He described how a witness told the jury two men were attacking the bouncer while the “victim was in and out of consciousness” and was getting “kicked everywhere” before “Monteith came in and joined them.”

The attack took place in the early hours of September 19, 2014.