Nine British Soldiers in Court Accused of Ayia Napa Rampage

A Cyprus bar owner yesterday recounted in court the night he says a gang of soldiers, released from tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, ran amok and beat him up. Kyriakos Hadjiyiannis was giving evidence at Famagusta district court against nine men from the 2nd Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, who were allegedly involved in a mass brawl in the Ayia Napa resort.

Branding them "wild" British soldiers, Hadjiyiannis said he needed an operation to restore his eyesight after being punched and hit over the head with a chair. The soldiers, who had been based at Dhekelia, are said to have started the trouble. If convicted, they face up to five years in jail. All deny the charges.

The trouble flared at around 1.20am on February 2 at the Flintstones-themed bar, the Bedrock Inn, in Ayia Napa. Bottles, glasses, chairs and tables were thrown after 20 soldiers stormed the pub.

The servicemen had been celebrating the end of tours of duty. The court was not told what prompted the violence. The incident is thought to have been related to an earlier assault on two soldiers, in which one was allegedly beaten with a baseball bat. A Cypriot man may face charges.

Hadjiyiannis said he tried to stop the soldiers from attacking bar staff but the "foreigners" turned and attacked him.

He pointed out Fusilier Daniel Brayne, 22, from Birmingham, who was sitting in court, and accused him of being the first to strike him. Fusilier William Sewell, 21, from Manchester, Hadjiyiannis said, had used a metal crutch to beat up one of his staff.

In the fighting, the witness said, he spotted a chair being held aloft and suddenly had to put his hands over his head as Fusilier Damien Heywood, from Manchester, allegedly crashed it over him.

"I would have been almost killed. He came from behind with a chair and hit me with all his force. I was almost unconscious. I got on my feet and I just gave up, I wanted to run away to save myself."

Hadjiyiannis said he tried to protect his property but ended up locking himself in a toilet until the authorities arrived.

Sewell is charged with grievous bodily harm, malicious damage and breach of the peace. David Ramage, 21, from Manchester and Brayne face charges of assault, damage, and breach of the peace. Heywood, Andy Evans, 21 and Dean Rushton, 21, all from Manchester, Gary Farrell, 23, from Newcastle upon Tyne, Christopher Wenham, 19, from London, and Ashley Hughes, 19, from Birmingham, deny damage and breach of the peace.

Hadjiyiannis is seeking £4m damages against the soldiers and British authorities on the island for damage to his bar and personal injuries. He says he was left with 15% vision after the attack.

After the rape and murder of Danish tour guide Louise Jensen by British servicemen in 1994 the centre of Ayia Napa was declared off limits to soldiers. All the accused were "out of bounds".

Under Cypriot law there is no jury. A single judge hears the case and decides guilt or innocence. The case resumes on Monday.