Security firm responds after alleged incident at Darlington The Gate

Josh Jackson thought he was going for a fun night out at The Gate, Darlington when the alleged incident took place at the weekend.

Footage, which appears to show the aftermath of the incident and Mr Jackson on the ground with a bouncer, has circulated on social media.

Last night, the security firm confirmed a bouncer had been suspended but made their own claims that Mr Jackson had "attacked door staff."

Josh Jackson claims he was attacked by a bouncer at The Gate, a popular Durham nightclub. (Image: Josh Jackson claims he was attacked by a bouncer at The Gate, a popular Durham nightclub.)

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They said that the reveller had been disruptive for around 25 minutes before the incident took place.

But speaking to The Northern Echo, Mr Jackson said: "I was waiting outside for my fiance because she went back in for her keys when the bouncer started to threaten me. 

"He was trying to get me to go away, but I wasn't even near the venue.

"My friend said 'you won't touch him', and that must have [made the bouncer] angry because he just launched himself at me and I was on the floor being strangled."

Video footage showing the aftermath of the incident appears to show Mr Jackson and the bouncer on the floor in front of a crowd of people.

Mr Jackson claims he did not provoke the bouncers.

While Mr Jackson said that he had sought help from the police, but said "they were not interested in the incident - they told me to stop annoying them before they arrested me."

"It really annoyed me, as he's gotten away with his actions - he was protected by The Gate and the police. It shouldn't be acceptable that he has a badge and gets protected."

"His actions were uncalled for and unprofessional.

But Mr Jackson was keen to say the bouncer's alleged behaviour was not indicative of all of the workers at The Gate. 

Josh Jackson claims he was attacked by a bouncer at The Gate, a popular Durham nightclub. (Image: Josh Jackson claims he was attacked by a bouncer at The Gate, a popular Durham nightclub.)

He said: "No other bouncer acted that way, they were even telling him to calm down. He said that he didn't care about his actions as he didn't need his job."

The whole ordeal "ruined the mood of the night" for Mr Jackson and his friends, and he has said he will not be returning to the venue. 

Mr Jackson has since said he has reported the incident to both the police and the licensing agency.

In response, a spokesperson for the security company, Trisec, claimed Mr Jackson had been harassing its door staff before the incident, something he refutes.

However, they have confirmed the bouncer identified in the video has been suspended following concerns raised.

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They said: "This member of the public had been harassing our door staff for 25 minutes before the incident took place. When he attacked door staff, the bouncer responded, and both men fell to the floor."

"However, the bouncer in question has now been suspended, as having his hands on someone's neck cannot be justified."

Also responding, The Gate said that the bouncer seen in the videos will not be returning to work at their venue again.

However, they were keen to suggest that the response on social media to the videos had been out of proportion, believing Mr Jackson had been attacking door staff before the incident took place - again, something he has refuted.

Durham Police declined to comment but it is understood that no arrests were made from either of the parties involved.

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