University student attacked nightclub bouncer while out celebrating graduation

This former Nottingham Trent University student bit a nightclub doorman while out celebrating her graduation. Nottingham Crown Court heard how Jessica Licheri twice sunk her teeth into the man who was grappling with her boyfriend as he and other staff were trying to eject one of her friends from Pryzm, in Upper Parliament Street.

The victim had to go to hospital to be checked over and faced an anxious wait to make sure he had not been infected with either HIV or hepatitis C as a result of the 24-year-old’s assault. During that time he was “cautious” about handling his then eight-month-old daughter, lost wages and money he’d paid for a tattoo.

The defendant, who has since graduated in Business Management and Accounts & Finance, took the matter to trial, claiming she was acting in self-defence of her partner. But a jury rejected her side and convicted her of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Handing her a 12-month community order, with 200 hours unpaid work, Recorder James Bide-Thomas said: “You were celebrating your graduation from Nottingham Trent University and ended up in Pryzm with your partner and friends. The door staff became aware that some people were stealing drinks from behind the bar, viewed CCTV and identified one of your friends as being involved.

“They were in the process of ejecting him from the club when your partner grabbed hold of a member of the door staff. (The victim), who was the head doorman, intervened and your partner became aggressive towards him and grabbed him around the collar.

“You then grabbed him from behind and bit him twice, once near the shoulder and again near his armpit. He had to go to A&E as a result of you biting him and when there certain procedures were gone through including him having a number of tests.

“This resulted in him spending some time facing the anxiety of waiting for the results and that made him concerned about handling his young daughter.”

Denney Lau, prosecuting, told the jury that the incident happened in the early hours of July 12, 2022, when Licheri was out celebrating her graduation from NTU. He said after the staff became aware of people trying to steal drinks from behind the bar staff tried to eject one of her friends and she ended up biting the victim.

Mr Lau said: “The Crown says this was a vicious and sustained attack by this defendant all because her boyfriend was being escorted out of the premises. The crown will say that she was not acting in self defence, because it was simply not reasonable as to need nor reasonable as to the degree of force.”

Hal Ewing, mitigating, said his client “behaved totally out of character” on the evening of the assault. He said she used to work as a swimming instructor, is now working full-time earning £30,000 per year and is hoping to go and work in Thailand in the new year.

He said: “It is with great sadness that she appears before the court as she is someone who makes positive contributions to society.” As well as the order and unpaid work, the judge ordered Licheri, of Waverley Road, Redbridge, London, to pay £3,000 towards the prosecution's costs and £1,000 compensation to her victim.