TWO Chippendales have vowed never to return to Guernsey after being fined £900 each by the Magistrate’s Court. Steve Kader Jr, 37, of 290, Venetian Way, Miami Beach, Florida, and Jerry Pope, 26, care of Apartment 1, Building 4, St John’s Street, St Peter Port, yesterday afternoon admitted disorderly conduct.

Both men attended court with their suitcases packed and planned to leave the island as soon as they could last night.

The third member of the group, Jeremiah Patton, 26, of 506, Lori Lane, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, denied disorderly conduct and the charge against him was dropped.

The incident occurred outside the Carlton Hotel last Friday night.

The two sober Chippendales restrained and punched a drunk 47-year-old. They claimed they were restraining the man, who had just hit a third member of the group.

But Assistant-Magistrate Philip Robey said what made it very serious was that two sober men punched a drunk man who was weaker than them, while pushing him to the ground.

He claimed the victim, David Tyms from the UK, would have been powerless.

‘Your actions went well beyond restraint and cannot be excused.’

Inspector Terry Coule, prosecuting, said Mr Tyms had drunk eight pints at the Wicked Wolf. The defendants returned with the troupe after a performance in Town and, together with Mr Patton, got talking to one of Mr Tyms’ friends outside.

‘Mr Tyms went over to join the conversation but quickly decided to leave and, as he turned away, raised his right hand in a gesture to his friend for them to get out of there,’ said Insp. Coule.

‘He claimed that as his hand was still in the air, he felt a punch to the ribs. The three men reacted strongly and pushed him to the floor, punching him on a number of occasions.’

The man claimed to recall nothing after falling to the floor. He was treated in hospital for bruising to his left eye, injuries to both sides of the face and a number of bruises.

The three men were arrested and denied hitting Mr Tyms. They spent 23 hours in custody and were bailed not to leave the island.

Advocate David Domaille, defending, told a very different story.

‘Both my clients believe the drunken man punched Mr Patton first with such force that he fell to the ground, sustaining injuries to his face and elbow.’

They tried to defend Mr Patton from further attacks by pushing Mr Tyms to the ground and accepted that one of them might have punched him in the side.

‘They were both frightened by the aggression of the drunken man.

‘They certainly did not retaliate but took their efforts to restrain him a bit too far.’

Counsel added that as they held the man, he lashed out, punching in different angles and scraped his head violently as he struggled, causing his injuries.

‘The basis of their guilty plea is that they both used excessive force in restraining him and, either directly or indirectly, some injury was caused.’

The prosecution did not dispute this evidence.

Mr Domaille said the incident had caused both men considerable embarrassment.

They had no previous convictions, which is a requirement of entering the Chippendales.

The court heard that Kader was in a long term relationship with his 41-week pregnant partner. He has a degree in sociology and worked as a nutritionist before joining the troupe.

Pope has a young son. He has a degree in engineering and is also qualified as a nutritionist.

Their jobs with the Chippendales remain open.