Kyle Dempsey, a player for Bolton Wanderers, and his father Michael Dempsey were found guilty of assaulting a bouncer outside the Maryport Labour Club in Cumbria in July of last year with the video now viral
They were given suspended prison terms.
The Crown Prosecution Service released CCTV video that showed the Dempseys launching what Judge Ian Unsworth KC called a “determined and sustained joint attack” on doorman Darryl Jarvis.
CCTV footage shows Kyle Dempsey and father Michael beating club bouncer, video goes viral
During the attack, the victim was kicked twice by Kyle Dempsey, who is 27 years old. After the attack, Mr. Jarvis had a broken nose, bruised ribs, a cut head, a chipped tooth, and swelling. He had to quit his jobs as a doorman and a head of maintenance at a care home.
The Dempseys had already admitted that they hurt Mr. Jarvis physically during the fight. But they said they used too much self-defense and were going too far when they were provoked. A judge threw out this point because he or she thought it was a “determined and sustained assault.”
Kyle Dempsey played for Bolton Wanderers against Carlisle United in a friendly game earlier in the day. After that, he went to the Tap Tavern in Maryport to hang out with his family. The court heard that Dempsey senior had six or seven pints while his son had three or four.
The attack on the bouncer was merciless in Cumbria club brawl
As they walked to the Labour Club to pick up Kyle Dempsey’s grandfather, he was struck by a local man who had given the family trouble in the past. The court heard that Kyle Dempsey was knocked out. After Kyle and his dad woke up, they “chased” the attacker to the club, where Darryl, the doorman, was met by a “swarm” of people around 10:30 pm.
When club staff closed the door, the fight stopped for a while, but it started up again when Michael Dempsey kicked the door and it flew open. The doorman says that Michael Dempsey threw a punch at him and that it hit him in the face.
During evidence, prosecutor Gerard Rogerson drew Kyle Dempsey’s attention to the CCTV footage of the shocking violence, saying: “You’ve completely lost it there, haven’t you?” Dempsey replied: “Yeah.”
CCTV footage shows the moment Bolton Wanderers footballer Kyle Dempsey and his father Michael Dempsey assaulted a bouncer.
Story here: https://t.co/QA0L9wWZM1 pic.twitter.com/XfuYieaMOX
— ITV Granada Reports (@GranadaReports) April 13, 2023
Kyle Dempsey and father receive suspended prison sentences
The Dempseys were given suspended prison terms of 12 and 13 months for each of them. Both men were told to pay Mr. Jarvis £1,500 in damages, do 200 hours of unpaid work, and follow curfews at night. Kyle’s curfew will not be tracked electronically, and it can be changed if there are “employment issues.”
“This was, as each of you have acknowledged, shameful conduct. You have each let yourself down, your family down and, in your case, Kyle Dempsey, you know that you have let down the people who employ you and those who look up to you,” said Judge Unsworth.
The judge said that he had looked at the CCTV footage, which showed most of what happened, and that Kyle Dempsey was “not defending himself; he was out of control and, in his words, had lost it.”
Lawyer for Dempsey father and son expresses remorse and regret in court
Lisa Judge, who was the lawyer for both defendants, said that Michael Dempsey was a “loving, kind, family man.” She said that Dempsey had cried when he was told that his conviction might keep him from being a young rugby coach in the future. She said that Michael’s face showed “unequivocal horror” when he saw the CCTV tape.
The lawyer said that he had shown “insightful remorse” as well as regret. Miss Judge said that Kyle Dempsey had also apologised sincerely, and that when the film was shown to him, he was shocked.
In a statement to the court, Mr. Jarvis said that he had lost a night’s pay as a door monitor and had to take a week off from his day job as a care home maintenance manager. He thanked the police officers who took the Dempseys off of him, saying, “If they had kept going, my injuries could have been much worse, and I might not be here today.”
Revisiting social media standards in the wake of Kyle Dempsey’s violent attack
Concerns have been made again about what kind of behaviour is appropriate on social media, especially when it comes to younger audiences. Because of what happened, people are talking about what kind of material is okay to post on social media sites. Kyle Dempsey’s actions are clearly not okay, and he is not a good example for young people who look up to him.
Even though both Kyle Dempsey and his father got suspended terms, it’s important to remember how bad their actions were and how they affected the victim. No matter what the situation is, it is never okay to attack someone. The Dempseys have disappointed themselves and their family, and it is hoped that they will learn from their mistakes and become better people.