Man jailed over fight outside Brighton club

A man has been jailed for nine months over a fight outside a Brighton night club.

The fight, outside Lola Lo, in East Street, Brighton, left the victim in a coma.

One of those involved in the fight, Nathan Mhuto, an unemployed 24-year-old from Outram Road, Bognor, admitted affray and common assault.

He was jailed for nine months for affray and for three months or common assault to run concurrently, making nine months in total.

Mhuto was sentenced at Hove Crown Court yesterday afternoon (Monday 16 December).

The offence happened on Friday 28 December last year at about 3.30am when a group of men started fighting.

The victim, Ryan Geall, 20 from Lancing, was punched on the back of the head but walked away from the scene. He collapsed on the seafront a few minutes later.

Victim Ryan Geall in a coma, left and centre, and Nathan Mhuto, who was jailed for nine months for affray

Mr Geall was taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton from where he was transferred to Hurstwood Park Neurosciences Centre in Haywards Heath with a bleed on the brain.

He remained in a medically induced coma for some weeks and doctors thought he might die.

He has since made a full recovery.

Mhuto was charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) but when his trial began in September he pleaded guilty to affray and common assault.

CCTV footage shows some of the fight including Mhuto punching Mr Geall but at times they disappear from view.

Sussex Police said: “It was unclear whether Mhuto caused the full extent of the victim’s injury.”

Detective Constable Sophie Tullett, who led the investigation, said: “This was a thorough investigation and thankfully Ryan has made a full recovery – amazing after it was thought he might not survive.

“We worked hard to bring Mhuto to justice for his part in Ryan’s injuries.

“A custodial sentence reflects the seriousness of the assault and Ryan can now begin to move on with his life.

“He has been through so much and is still having physiotherapy to build up his strength.

“We are pleased Mhuto has been jailed and justice has been served for Ryan and his family.”