A Bristol nightclub bouncer pushed his walkie-talkie into a student's face so hard it caused his eyeball to explode, a court has heard.

David Lowe was celebrating the end of his legal practice course exams at Bristol's University of the West of England in the city's Lizard Lounge nightclub in June 2002.

Drunk and tired, the student and former county cricketer was asked to leave by bouncers as he kept falling asleep.

A jury at Bristol Crown Court was told how Mr Lowe failed to leave and was approached by bouncers Martin White and Robert Handford who were 'unhappy about it'.

Handford began dealing with the man 'reasonably well' by trying to stand him up and get him out.

But the court heard how White decided to get involved and as Mr Lowe lay drunk on the floor, White rammed his heavy walkie-talkie into the student's eye.

Prosecuting Robert Davies said: 'He got Mr Lowe in a headlock and took it upon himself to drive that walkie-talkie hard into the eye of Mr Lowe.'

Mr Davies said this 'completely unnecessary' action caused the eyeball to explode and the lens to eject from the eye.

Mr Lowe underwent four hours of eye surgery but was left blind in his left eye, disfigured and with fractures to his shoulder and carpet burns to his back.

White, 26, of Elmdale Crescent, Thornbury, south Gloucestershire, denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent, inflicting grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Handford, 45, of Chedworth Road, Horfield, Bristol, denies assaulting David Lowe, occasioning actual bodily harm.

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