Southampton New Year's Eve fight after woman punched in club

The attack at Fever & Vibe led to a fight which spilled out onto the streets, with footage shown in court capturing dozens of people thrown to the floor and kicked.

The victim had been standing in the doorway as staff looked after her friend who had suffered from a seizure.

Pius Abrahams and Jammoy Bent, both aged 32, barged past her.

Prosecuting, Keely Harvey said the woman said something to the pair, causing them to come back.

Bent shoved her “with force” before Abrahams stepped forward and punched her in the face.

Witnesses described how “blood splattered” from the punch leaving the woman with her nose bleeding “quite heavily”.

Other people got involved to stop the men from leaving before the melee “spills out the door and into the streets”.

Pius Abrahams was among the four men sentenced for a fight outside Fever & Vibe on January 1, 2021 (Image: Hampshire Constabulary/Google Maps)

Ali Ali, 19, and Paul Bamgbala, 24, got involved and were seen using their belts as weapons.

Abrahams and Bent left the area but when they returned, all four were pointed out and arrested. 

READ MORE: Southampton pair knocked man out in brawl outside Sharkey's Sports Bar

Abrahams, of Catherines Road, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray while Bent, of Oakley Road, admitting a charge of affray.

Ali, of Ascuport Street, and Bamgbala, of Sutherland Road, both pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

All defendants are from Southampton.

In a statement read out at Southampton Crown Court, the victim said the attack on January 1, 2021 left her with scarring to her eyebrow and lip and she now needs medication to clear her sinuses.

The court heard she had been involved in a disagreement inside a venue prior to the assault, and was in a later incident following it.

She said she has been diagnosed with PTSD and has not been able to enter Southampton since.

“I don’t go out by myself anymore. I will only ever go out if I am being driven by someone I trust.

“I just can’t be alone when I go out because I worry that something will happen.”

She said she already struggled with her mental health but the incident has made it “much worse”.

READ MORE: Southampton pair burst into man's home and launch violent attack

Mitigating for Abrahams, Sunil Mansingh said his client had a lot to drink that night, describing it as an “impulsive, short-lived and spontaneous assault”.

Colin McCarraher, mitigating for Bent and Bamgbala, said the former only made one single push and has been doing all the courses “he can get his hands on” whilst in custody for a separate offence.

As for Bamgbala, the 24-year-old did not have an easy upbringing in London and is studying at South Bank University to become an occupational therapist, the court heard.

Mitigating for Ali, who was 17 at the time, Annabel Hazlitt said the teenager made an “incredibly unwise but entirely spontaneous” decision.

Recorder Benjamin Handy said Abrahams, who is also in custody for another offence, had triggered the overall disorder.

“It wouldn’t have happened without you,” he told him.

Abrahams was jailed for 16 months while Bent was sentenced to 18 weeks.

Bamgbala, who has no previous offences, was given a 12-month community order with 200 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation days.

Ali, who also has no previous convictions, was also given a one-year community order with 100 hours unpaid work.