Drunk cruise ship passenger, 45, 'kicked man in the face 'like he was taking a ...

Drunk cruise ship passenger, 45, 'kicked man in the face 'like he was taking a ...
Drunk cruise ship passenger, 45, 'kicked man in the face 'like he was taking a ...

An 'intoxicated' cruise ship passenger kicked a man in the face 'like he was taking a penalty' as he and his YouTuber girlfriend attacked a family at a late night buffet, a court heard.  

Andrew Irving was enjoying a meal onboard the P&O Royal Britannia with his granddaughter, Elsie-Mai, 10, and his wife Gaynor Abrams when a fight broke out involving several guests.

'Horrified' by the brawl, he intervened only to get a knee in the face from Paul Evans, 45, who also kicked him during the 'violent and chaotic' attack, the court heard. 

The fight onboard P&O's Royal Britannia ship was allegedly sparked when a family asked Evans to stop swearing at their daughter as they dined late that evening.

The defendant is accused of assaulting Justin Gardner, his nurse wife Sarah and daughter Alice, 21, after he was overheard saying he wanted to 's***' and 'f***' in front of their autistic and deaf 16-year-old daughter Amelia, the court heard. 

Paul Evans (above outside court) is accused of one count of robbery and three counts of actual bodily harm following the extraordinary scenes on the P&O Royal Britannia

Paul Evans (above outside court) is accused of one count of robbery and three counts of actual bodily harm following the extraordinary scenes on the P&O Royal Britannia

Andrew Irving was enjoying a meal onboard the P&O Royal Britannia with his granddaughter, Elsie-Mai, 10, and his wife Gaynor Abrams (above outside court with Mr Irving) when a fight broke out involving several guests

Andrew Irving was enjoying a meal onboard the P&O Royal Britannia with his granddaughter, Elsie-Mai, 10, and his wife Gaynor Abrams (above outside court with Mr Irving) when a fight broke out involving several guests

His girlfriend Tabatha Young, 43, who interviews boxers on YouTube and has admitted to causing actual bodily harm, was also involved in the brawl as she started shoving and eventually punching Alice, jurors were told. 

Evans is accused of one count of robbery and three counts of actual bodily harm following the extraordinary scenes on the 16th floor of the cruise ship during the early hours of July 2019. 

The Gardners had attended a family disco with their two daughters when they retired to the buffet, but became upset by language coming from the neighbouring table. 

Mr Irving told Southampton Crown Court how he intervened in the fight after seeing things grow 'heated' between Evans' girlfriend Ms Young and Mrs Gardner.

He said: 'I had seen [Evans] earlier - he had a tea bag in a pint glass. I thought it was bizarre.

'It was a heated exchange. I remember thinking this is not good. Evans was a few metres away. At first, I thought they were just arguing and then they were grappling and fighting.'

Families ran to hide during the late-night buffet fight that broke out aboard the P&O Royal Britannia ship (pictured)

Families ran to hide during the late-night buffet fight that broke out aboard the P&O Royal Britannia ship (pictured)

Tabatha Young, 43 of Chigwell, Essex, (above) was also accused of attacking the Gardner family during the late-night brawl

Tabatha Young, 43 of Chigwell, Essex, (above) was also accused of attacking the Gardner family during the late-night brawl

Mr Irving added he had a feeling of 'dread' when Evans came over and started 'throwing punches' at Alice, who was with her sister and parents at the Horizon buffet.   

He said: 'It was the sort of punch that would would knock me down. To my memory, she was cowering. I was horrified.'

Mrs Abrams told the court she became aware of what was happening when her granddaughter saw her husband intervening and shouted 'no grandad, no'.

Mr Irving added: 'I tried to grab hold of Evans from behind. I could not stand by and see a man grab what I thought was a child [Alice]. 

'I could not stand by and let that happen. She posed no threat to him at that time.

'We were grappling. I slipped and injured my knee. Then I was in a headlock because I had gone so far down and then had a knee to the face.

Sarah Gardner said Young, (above) 'punched and attacked' her 21-year-old daughter during the late-night buffet

Sarah Gardner said Young, (above) 'punched and attacked' her 21-year-old daughter during the late-night buffet

'I saw him step back and then he kicked me in the head. I was helpless. I was unable to defend myself and was pretty vulnerable.'

Jurors were shown photographs taken that evening of bruising to Mr Irving's face and lip. He also suffered a torn ligament in his knee.

In a witness statement, Mr Irving described the incident on the ship's 16th floor as 'bedlam'.

He told the court: 'It is actually a moment that terrifies me now - seeing [Evans'] leg swing back

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