A nightclub doorman acquitted of manslaughter by gross negligence after restraining an aggressive customer is calling for change to prevent similar tragedies.

Simon Banks, 40, along with Peter Holland, 46, and Jamie Seal, 27, was found not guilty in a unanimous jury verdict at Maidstone Crown Court last Wednesday.

The trial followed the death of Michael Bowes, who collapsed while being restrained.

Speaking exclusively to the Mercury, Mr Banks, of William Pitt Avenue, Deal, said: “The last two years have been an enormous strain on myself, the others and all our families, and Mr Bowes’ family too.

“As more emergency services are cut back with police response times reflecting this, something drastically needs to change to prevent things like this tragedy from happening again.

“Security staff are expected to do a front-line job in potentially hazardous situations without any equipment to enable them to do so safely.”

Mr Banks hasn’t worked in security since.

He said: “I will never work in security again as I would never want to be put in that position again.”

The three men were all working for Marc-One Security at a drum and bass club night at Rivals in Deal in August 2013 when Michael Bowes, a user of anabolic steroids and cocaine, was ejected from the club and suffered a cardiac respiratory collapse while being restrained.

The 25-year-old from Margate stopped breathing and lost consciousness but the prosecution said there was no natural cause for his heart and lungs to stop functioning.

Managing director of Mark-One Security, Marcus Redwood, said: “I have always maintained that my door staff were innocent of any wrong doing, and had the cameras been working properly that night, this trial would not have been necessary.

“Three of the best staff that I have ever worked with have had their lives turned upside down with a manslaughter charge hanging over their heads for the past two years.

"They are innocent, that is the truth.”

Mr Redwood has changed one of his policies.

He said: “We have body cameras on two of our staff now, so that wherever there is a problem in the future, it can be filmed by our own staff to prove that everything is done by the book.

“This has been a very traumatic time for everyone involved. I just hope that we can all move forward now.”