A MEMBER of a prestigious golf club accused of biting a security guard after being nabbed following a golf buggy incident has denied the allegations against him.

Simon Lloyd was detained by security guards at the Royal Liverpool club in Hoylake, Wirral, as he was leaving the grounds during last year’s Open championship and was described by police as intoxicated.

It had been believed that he had driving a stolen buggy, which had been hired by Netflix for the tournament, which crashed into G4S security refreshment portacabin.

Lloyd was charged with aggravated vehicle taking and assault causing actual bodily harm after the incident on the evening of July 18, 2023 and is on trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

He denied both offences and was formally found not guilty of the buggy offence on the judge’s directions after the prosecution offered no further evidence.

However, the 47-year-old still faces the offence of assault and the jury heard from alleged victim John Bilsborough, who was a night security supervisor at the event.

He told how he received a radio message that there had been an incident involving a golf buggy and he went over to investigate the scene near gate seven and saw two colleagues trying to restrain a man.

“One had hold of his left hand and one had his right arm and he was up against a wall. He was very aggressive, lashing out with his legs all over the place, trying to kick.

“I got behind him and pushed him back against the wall and stood behind him forcing him against the wall. I put my hand on his collar. I was trying to calm him down and he was saying, ‘let me go and I’ll fight you toe to toe’,” he claimed.

“He started trying to butt me, throwing his head backwards. It clipped me on the temple. He was struggling more and I put my left hand on his shoulder to make sure the stayed against the wall.

“I remember him turning his head sideways and trying to bite me. As he tried I moved my left hand but my right hand slipped off the back of his neck and he spun round and bit me on my right hand. 

“He bit my middle finger and then my thumb, grinding it,” said Mr Bilsborough.

He said he shouted at Lloyd to let go but he did not initially do so though eventually did. He said he stepped back as he saw the police arriving.

Mr Bilsborough went to Runcorn Urgent Care Centre and his bruised fingers were cleaned and took about 10 days to heal. His injured thumb which had three minor injuries was tender.    

CCTV images of Lloyd’s alleged driving and then footage, lasting several minutes, of his detention by security guards followed by his arrest, has been played to the court.

The jury has heard that when arrested, police described him as “clearly intoxicated, slurring his speech and he smelt heavily of intoxicants.” A subsequent breath test revealed he was just under twice the legal drink driving limit.                                                                                                                  

Giving evidence Lloyd, of Bertram Close, Meols, Wirral, said that he had been a member of the club for 30 years and had gone there that day to watch some of the golf and have lunch.

He said he had three or four single drinks of vodka and orange and after watching some more golf set off along a pathway to his nearby home. Asked by his barrister Jonathan Duffy if he had considered himself to be drunk he replied, “no.”

He said he had not been one of the three people, one a woman, who had allegedly taken the golf buggy but as he walked down the pathway he was suddenly grabbed and pushed against a wall.

He said he did not know who the men in high-vis jackets were. He thought they might be “robbers” and told them to get off and put his arms out. He denied then flailing his arms and pointed out that his arms were being held by two men.

The court has heard allegations that he had attended an “after party’ at the course but he denied this and he also denied knowing a young black woman who was seen on the footage filming the incident on her mobile phone.

Lloyd, who is six foot two, claimed that while being held by four security officers, while six others milled around, his face, especially his nose and cheek bone, were “ground against the wall".

He told the court he was telling the security officer, “let me go, I’ll stay here.”

Lloyd denied twice trying to head butt Mr Bilsborough and said he had just thrown his head back to get if off the wall as his face was up against the coping stone. 

He showed the jurors a scar on his wrist where he had a titanium pin put in 30 years ago and said he had restricted movement in it. “My chest was being pressed against the wall 

“I was in all sorts of pain.” Asked, “Did you at any time try to kick, punch or assault anyone?’” he replied, “No.`’

Cross-examined by David Polglase, prosecuting, Lloyd said he was in pain during the incident and added: “I was roughed up.”

He said he had been left with reddening to his face but agreed he did not have photographic evidence and had not gone to his doctor or hospital.

Asked why he had made no comment when interviewed by police the next day he said he had been advised to do so by his solicitor.

He also said he had been “bewildered” rather than angry at the time of the incident and was left shaken.

Mr Polglase suggested that he was lying in his account and had “embellished and exaggerated” it but he denied this. He said the footage showed he had not been struggling.

He also denied being drunk and said he did not get “boisterous or violent. I was just minding my own business walking home.”

The case continues.