Praise for pair who staved off Stafford knifeman

Two doormen who bravely tackled a knife-wielding customer ejected from a Staffordshire pub have been praised by a judge. The knifeman, John Allen, went home to arm himself with two large kitchen blades.

He had threatened to kill one of the door staff at the Litten Tree in Bridge Street, Stafford, it was heard at Stafford Crown Court. He came back and lunged at Shu Luther Defang, who wrestled the knife out of his hand and put it on the floor, said Mr Pat Sullivan, prosecuting.

The defendant's response was to pull out another knife, which Mr Defang managed to deflect away with his arm. One of his colleagues on the door of the pub - former Olympic judo star Elvis Gordon - then stepped forward and between them they got the second knife off Allen, who ran off.

Mr Defang later told police he felt "lucky to be alive", while Mr Gordon said it was the most frightening experience as a security man.

Allen, aged 30, of Brunswick House, Stafford was jailed for two years after admitting affray and possessing a blade. Judge John Maxwell told him: "You not only carried a knife, you used it. It's true you didn't cause any injuries, but that was due to the skilled action of the security staff."

The judge directed the court to send a letter of commendation to each of the doormen: "They acted with considerable courage."

The violence happened on the night of April 25 when Allen, earlier warned about his behaviour on the pub's dancefloor, was ejected. He spent five minutes trying to get back in, prevented by Mr Defang. Allen said: "I'll be back, I'll kill you, I'll show you, I'm a man."

On his return he tried to walk in to the pub and when Mr Defang blocked him, pulled out the first knife.

The defendant was arrested shortly afterwards and when he had sobered up said he could remember little about the incident.

* Fifty-two-year old Elvis Gordon rose to fame after representing Great Britain in the sport of Judo at three consecutive Olympic games in the 1980s. He also achieved gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in New Zealand in 1990.

By Simon Stone