Two men have been cleared of an attack on a nightclub doorman who suffered a fractured eye socket.

Nick Hunter was injured in an incident at JJ’s in Lockmeadow, Maidstone.

Anthony Gardner, 45, of Swanton Road, Erith, and Tommy Kent, 21, of Eardley Road, Belvedere, had denied assaulting Mr Hunter, causing him actual bodily harm.

Four others, Dean Crabb, 29, of Olivers Mill, New Ash Green, Stephen Hurd, 50, of Farnaby Road, Eltham, south east London, Stephen Kent, 45, of Eardley Road, Belvedere, and Steven West, 46, of Goldfinch Road, Thamesmead, were earlier acquitted of affray.

The prosecution alleged Tommy Kent threw a punch at Mr Hunter, 28, in December 2008 and that he was then attacked by Mr Gardner. Mr Hunter fell to the floor and was kicked and punched.

Prosecutor Rufus Stilgoe said: "Each of the defendants effectively asserted when interviewed that door staff, some of all of them, were acting in a heavy-handed way, that they had gone completely over the top."

Mr Kent claimed in evidence he was grabbed by the doorman. "He grabbed my waist and groin area," he said. "I was just trying to get him off me. I pushed him away with an open hand.

"It happened quickly. Mr Hunter was on his knees. He still had hold of me around my neck and groin area. I didn’t kick him.

He added: "I don’t think I could have acted in any other way that evening. I didn’t attack Mr Hunter."

Mr Kent claimed he was held in a headlock and could not breathe. He said he was not aware of Mr Gardner being involved.

"I saw him on the floor with the doormen on top of him," he said.

Mr Kent, who had drunk 12 bottles of beer, admitted he had not told police his testicles had been grabbed.