Scrap Dancers! Stripper who brawled with naked colleague at nightclub is cleared of assault
A lap dancer who brawled with a naked colleague in the changing room of the club where they both worked has been cleared of assault after it was ruled she acted in self defence.
Violence flared in the changing rooms at Rouge strip club in Carlisle after one woman accused the other of being rude about her behind her back.
Mancunian Alexandra Bryan, 30, was accused of grabbing Abbie McEvilly's head before punching, scratching, and slapping her as they grappled on the floor. She denied assault by beating.
Alexandra Bryan (pictured outside court) was accused of assault by beating after she scrapped with a naked strip club dancer she worked with at Rouge in Carlisle
The club's boss was forced to intervene and reportedly pulled the duo apart.
After hearing evidence from four of the club's dancers - including the defendant and the alleged victim - magistrates sitting at the city's Rickergate court declared Miss Bryan not guilty.
Prosecutor John Moran told magistrates evidence showed Bryan was the aggressor - but defence lawyer Peter Grogan said there was strong evidence to show his client acted in self-defence.
The strip club says on its website it is a 'stylish and exclusive venue located among Carlisle's most popular bars, restaurants and clubs'.
The two dancers were in the Botchergate club's changing room at 10.30pm on November 11 last year, getting ready for work at the pole and table club.
The pair's already strained relationship snapped after Bryan kicked McEvilly's bag into the air hitting another woman in the face.
Rouge in Carlisle (pictured) says on its website it is a 'stylish and exclusive venue located among Carlisle's most popular bars, restaurants and clubs'
Fancy a dance? The pair brawled in the club's changing room as they got ready for an evening's work. Pictured: Rouge's main room features deep red booths and tables as well as a bar
At the time, McEvilly, from Newcastle, was naked, the court heard.
McEvilly accused the defendant of 'clawing at her forehead' before knocking her to the ground.
Another dancer and friend of McEvilly said she saw Miss Bryan on top of the other woman, punching, slapping and scratching.
The witness denied she was protecting her friend.
Another dancer, Jessica Kennelly, a friend of the defendant, saw the argument between the women escalate.
Miss McEvilly pulled the defendant's hair, and they ended up on the floor, scuffling, she said.
'Alex kicked a bag, and it ended up hitting one of the other girl's in the face. I don't think it was deliberate,' she said.
She said McEvilly was on top of Miss Bryan, trying to kick her and pull her hair. The fight ended when the club's manager intervened.
Later, inside the club, Bryan suggested speaking to McEvilly and sorting out but the other woman was apparently not interested, said Miss Kennelly.
Asked why the altercation had escalated to become physical, the witness said it was because McEvilly had pulled the defendant's hair.
Delivering their not guilty verdict, magistrates said they had concluded she acted in self-defence and that her actions had been proportionate.