Oceana nightclub in Birmingham broke safety rules over reveller’s fatal fall
A Birmingham nightclub faces a heavy fine over the death of a customer who was “imprisoned” in its car park.
Christopher Clarke, aged 21, from Solihull, was left stranded in Oceana’s car park on a freezing night after he was ejected for taking a glass bottle on to the dance floor, Birmingham Crown Court heard.
He was found dead two-and-a-half hours later from a fractured skull after he fell 13ft as he climbed a fire escape to try to get out.
Oceana’s parent company, Luminar Oceana Ltd, pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety legislation.
Barry Berlin, prosecuting, said Mr Clarke, of Stanton Road, Shirley, had gone to the Hurst Street club with friends in February 2007.
At 12.30am he was asked to leave because he had ignored the bouncer’s requests not to take his glass bottle on to the dance floor.
But, Mr Berlin said, instead of escorting him out of the main entrance, the doorman made him leave via a fire exit which led into a car park enclosed on all sides and with an automatic powered gate.
“He was drunk, he was not abusive or aggressive or violent,” he said.
