British Transport Police officer Niki Minev tried to claim that he acted in self defence after the victim complained about misogynistic abuse to his partner
A police officer smashed a glass into a man’s face during an ugly incident in a city centre bar after the victim’s girlfriend complained of misogynistic abuse.
Serving British Transport Police officer Niki Minev, 31, and friend Shane Zammit, 30, were involved in an ugly incident inside a city centre bar which saw two men attacked with glasses after they confronted the defendants about some inappropriate behaviour towards one of their partners. Both defendants appeared before Liverpool Crown Court this morning, Thursday, July 25 to be sentenced, Minev for section 18 wounding with intent and Zammit for unlawful wounding.
Following the sentencing the ECHO approached Greater Manchester Police for the mugshots of both defendants. However, the force’s press office said it did not have a mugshot of the former police officer Minev on their system.
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Sarah Griffin, prosecuting, told the court that victims Connor Simpson and Jonathon Taylor had travelled into Manchester City Centre with their partners to attend an event at the Radisson Blu hotel on October 8 2022. The group enjoyed a meal and drinks and were described as in “good spirits”.
Ms Griffin said they arrived at the Impossible Bar at around 11pm and ordered a round of drinks. A short time later Mr Simpson’s partner returned from the bathroom and looked “upset and distressed” after a group involving the defendants “said something horrible to her”.
Ms Griffin said Mr Simpson went and spoke to the group but “it’s his recollection that the males all laughed in response, and he felt as though they were moving closer to him causing him to feel intimidated. Shane Zammit then started making comments such as ‘she loves me’ referring to Mr Simpson’s partner. There was an exchange between the groups lasting a few minutes before Connor Simpson was assaulted by Niki Minev and shortly after Jonathon Taylor was assaulted by Shane Zammit”.
Mr Simpson said he “felt intimidated” by the defendants and their friends when they surrounded the pair. Mr Taylor said he recalled one of the group, believed to have been Zammit, shouting something along the lines of “it’s not my fault your girlfriend f***ing loves it”.
The court heard Mr Simpson put his hand onto Minev’s chest to push him away. Mr Simpson then “saw Minev take a step back from the push before swinging his arm towards his head”. Ms Griffin said: “Connor Simpson felt ‘an instant hit’ on the left side of his face. He describes it feeling very hot before he realised blood was pouring down his face. He heard people screaming and recalls there being a commotion involving Jonathon Taylor and Shane Zammit.”
The court heard Mr Taylor recalled seeing Mr Simpson react to being assaulted before Zammit took hold of his blazer. Mr Taylor said he saw a glass in Zammit’s hand and said: “I’m not here to fight.” But after a matter of seconds, Zammit cocked the glass in his hand and proceeded to smash it into Mr Taylor’s face. The glass didn’t break, but Mr Taylor recalled blood running into his left eye and down his clothing.
Mr Simpson was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary where he was given morphine for the pain. The court heard when he woke several hours later he was in “excruciating pain” and was told he had three lacerations to the left side of his head and glass fragments in the wounds.
Mr Simpson had a CT scan before he was given 15 stitches. Mr Taylor was also taken in the ambulance but left the hospital due to the wait. He later received four stitches for his injuries at Stepping Hill Hospital.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Simpson said the attack by a serving police officer had left a “physical and emotional damage” that he continues to suffer with. He said his physical appearance had changed, glass had been found on his skull during the medical examinations and he is no longer positive and upbeat like he used to be before.
He added that he couldn’t work for four months and still struggles now due to the pain in his head. Ms Griffin said the victim no longer had any trust in the police after always believing they should serve and protect.
In his own victim impact statement, the court heard the attack had “a significant impact on Mr Taylor’s mental health in the weeks and months after”. Mr Taylor said he now leaves busy bars if he sees a group acting in a certain manner and the incident continues to have a lasting impact on both him and his partner. However, he added: “I count myself lucky it was not a more traumatic injury.”
Following the incident Zammit ran away from Impossible Bar before returning seven minutes later. He was arrested at the scene. Minev was not arrested on the day, but soon contacted Greater Manchester Police and stated he had been involved in the incident. He left his details and was later arrested.
During his interview, the officer said he had pints of beer, shots and Jager bombs before the “heated exchange” with Mr Simpson. He claimed the victim said: “I’m not leaving until I knock your mate out” before grabbing his windpipe and beginning to squeeze. Minev said: “It didn’t compute what was in his hand and he only struck the victim in order to stop him grabbing his throat.”
When asked about the movement made with the broken glass towards Mr Simpson’s head, Minev said he had turned his head away and didn’t know where his hands were.” Ms Griffin said: “When shown the CCTV, Mr Minev was shocked. He said he feels bad and feels sick.” Under caution, Zammit answered no comment to all the questions.
Minev pleaded guilty to the charge of section 18 wounding with intent shortly after his plea and trial preparation hearing at court. Zammit, who pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding, was acquitted at court of the more serious charge of wounding with intent.
In mitigation, Peter Gilmour, defending Minev said his client was genuinely remorseful and handed himself into police. He said: “He is very sad for the injuries and ashamed of himself. It was ugly and disgraceful behaviour and out of character. He has no previous convictions. He has been in employment culminating with a role at British Transport Police. He has rightly lost that career which is some element of additional punishment.”
Mr Gilmour said that a number of references sent to the court on behalf of his client described him as “gentle, polite, kind and always willing to lend a hand”. He added Minev was a dad of two as well as his dad’s carer.
The defence also said he respectfully submitted the broken glass was not a highly dangerous weapon and that Minev had acted in “excessive self defence” after he felt the need to defend himself against Mr Simpson. In response to his argument, Ms Griffin said the CCTV showed the victims made no threat towards the defendants before Minev struck Mr Simpson with his glass.
Representing Zammit, Thomas Sherrington said his client was initially attempting to calm the situation down. Giving evidence during his trial, Zammit said: “I didn’t need to hit him, I shouldn’t have done that. I could have just walked away.” Mr Sherrington said Zammit was “very remorseful and had become emotional when giving evidence.”
He accepted his behaviour was reckless and dangerous and was candid in his evidence regarding his use of alcohol before the incident. Zammit also has two young children including an adopted son. The self-employed joiner sobbed in the dock when his children were mentioned.
Mr Sherrington said: “My client is a good character for a suspended sentence. It punishes him for his reckless and dangerous mistake while allowing him to give back to the community.”
Sentencing, His Honour Judge Anil Murray said the two men were due to be sentenced for separate offences born out of the same incident. Regarding the evidence which led to the incident, the judge said Mr Simpson’s partner’s accounts of what happened were agreed during Zammit’s trial.
He said the defendants were clearly aware of the comments made towards her and the CCTV showed they were “antagonistic, not repentant”. Judge Murray said Minev crowded Mr Simpson until the victim feared for his safety. Regarding Mr Simpson taking hold of Minev’s neck, the judge said: “It’s clear to me it was a defensive, not an aggressive move.” He added: “The incident and aggression started before Mr Simpson held your neck.”
In respect to Zammit, Judge Murray said the evidence showed he was “antagonistic and emboldened by alcohol,” before CCTV showed him lifting the glass, cocking his arm before hitting Mr Taylor “in temper” seconds later. He told Zammit: “You never acted in a way to calm everything down.”
Judge Murray took into account the men’s personal mitigation and “remorse and shame” at the incident. But he told Zammit he could not suspend his sentence because “there has to be a deterrence so people who go to places where alcohol is served can feel safe”.
Minev, of Mayflower Gardens in Rochdale, was sentenced to 37 months in prison while Zammit, of Rushton Drive in Stockport, was given an immediate custodial sentence of 15 months. The pair, who both wore dark coloured suits and sported short haircuts, were supported in court by members of their family.
