Three doormen have been cleared of killing an aggressive nightclub customer who died after being restrained on the ground for 15 minutes.

Simon Banks, 40, Peter Holland, 46, and Jamie Seal, 27, were all found unanimously not guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence by a jury at Maidstone Crown Court.

The three men were all working for Marc-One Security at a drum and bass club night at Rivals in Deal in August 2013.

Michael Bowes, described as muscular and a user of anabolic steroids and cocaine, had been ejected from the club and suffered a cardiac respiratory collapse while being restrained.

The 25-year-old stopped breathing and lost consciousness but the prosecution said there was no natural cause for his heart and lungs to stop functioning, and that a number of factors contributed to his collapse.

Mr Bowes, of King Street, Margate, had been drinking heavily and a post mortem examination revealed he had been struck to the face before he was taken to the ground.

There was also evidence of force being applied to his back and neck, which was said by prosecutor Duncan Atkinson to be "excessive in the degree of pressure and the duration it lasted".

Mr Seal, of Beech Grove, Cliffsend, Ramsgate, was said to have restrained the top of Mr Bowes's body, Mr Banks, of William Pitt Avenue, Deal, allegedly held his leg or waist area, while Mr Holland, of St Pierre Court, Prince of Wales Terrace, was said to have restrained Mr Bowes's feet.

There were emotional scenes as the three left the dock. Supporters in the public gallery had broken down in tears as the verdicts were read out after about nine hours' deliberation.

Judge Jeremy Carey also remarked that those who had attended the trial on behalf of Mr Bowes had conducted themselves with dignity.

Describing his death as a tragedy, the judge added: "This court is very much aware that very different answers are sought understandably by those who grieve, and criminal proceedings are not necessarily an adequate or satisfactory way of giving answers to those questions and one understands that.

"But the issue for a criminal court is the issue of criminal liability of the defendants in question.

"I will not make any observations beyond that, although I could relate to how events might have otherwise turned out."

Judge Carey also expressed his gratitude to the jury of six men and six women for the attention they gave the "high emotive" case.

The trial heard Mr Bowes and his girlfriend Jade Adley had been drinking before they went to the Breakology event in Queen Street and continued to do so while there.

Mr Atkinson said Miss Adley became involved in a fight with another woman. Mr Bowes intervened and they were both ejected through different doors.

Mr Bowes broke a window and damaged a door frame, arguing with those who threw him out.

The prosecutor said Mr Bowes was held rigidly for about 15 minutes and lost consciousness, during which time "excessive and inappropriate pressure" was allegedly applied to his neck and chest.

The court heard CCTV cameras recorded Mr Bowes and Miss Adley in the club but were not working where the collapse happened.

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