Solicitor left bouncer dripping with blood after using her stiletto 'as a weapon' when her fiancé was booted out of club's VIP area, court hears

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A bouncer was left with blood dripping down his face after a 5ft 2in solicitor hit him with her stiletto at a Halloween party, a court heard today.

Vahideh Hojatoleslami, 28, allegedly struck Oluwakemi Tayo after he kicked her fiancé out of the VIP area of Loft Studio in Willesden, north-west London.

The commercial property solicitor, whose clients include developers, landlords and investors, was said to be 'agitated' and started screaming at him and throwing punches as they made their way towards the exit last October 27. 

Mr Tayo told Westminster Magistrates' Court the defendant used her stiletto 'as a weapon' to beat him over the head. Hojatoleslami has denied assault by beating and claims that Mr Tayo swung her round by the neck 'like a rag doll'.

Appearing in court today wearing a black dress and a grey suit jacket, Hojatoleslami spoke to confirm her name and address.

Vahideh Hojatoleslami, 28, allegedly struck Oluwakemi Tayo after he kicked her fiancé out of the VIP area of Loft Studio in Willesden, north-west London 

The commercial property solicitor, whose clients include developers, landlords and investors, was said to be 'agitated' and started screaming at him and throwing punches as they made their way towards the exit last October 27 (pictured, Loft Studio in Willesden)

Prosecutor Jennifer Gatland said: 'The defendant attended a Halloween party with friends, while upstairs in the VIP area, a drink was spilled and words were exchanged. Mr Tayo was recruited by a colleague to assist him in the VIP area. 

'Mr Tayo and another colleague arrived at the same time. The defendant was there with her partner. They engaged with security staff. There was shouting and screaming and they were told to leave.

'Once at the bottom of the stairs, the defendant and her partner met with two other friends. The group refused to leave, stating they wanted their money back.

'There was some shouting and a dispute by the doorway.

'The two friends walked out into the street. However, the defendant and her partner remained. The discussion became agitated.

'Mr Tayo took hold of the defendant's partner by his arm in order to remove him from the venue. The partner resisted. 

'The defendant was behind the partner and the member of staff. Then Mr Tayo felt a pain at the top of his head. Mr Tayo turned around and saw the defendant holding a stiletto shoe which she was hitting down and she started swearing.

'The police were called and they arrived shortly afterwards.'

Mr Tayo told the court that Hojatoleslami was 'aggressive' from the moment he saw her standing in the VIP area.

He said: 'When I got there, I saw my colleague and an Asian male and a female, the female was getting in front of my colleague in an aggressive way.

'My colleague pointed at the male. I approached the male and I said 'can I have a word with you'. The female was shouting and finger-pointing, she was telling everyone to shut up and go away.'

The commercial property solicitor was said to be 'agitated' after the bouncer escorted her fiancé out of the VIP area of the venue on October 27 last year

The Loft Studios security guard said the solicitor 'kicked off' when he escorted her lover down the stairs.

He said: 'The female was still screaming and shouting, punching and kicking out at everyone. She was following us towards the exit and at the same time, she was punching and shouting. The punching wasn't heavy so I just ignored her.

'When we got to the exit I now realised there was another male and a female waiting at the gate. The male started kicking off again when he saw his friends.

'The male said, 'I'm not going, I want my money back, I'm not going.''

Mr Tayo said the venue manager came out to explain that refunds could only be made online but the couple began threatening him.

He added: 'Two of them mentioned they were lawyers, they said 'we will deal with you', they were making threats.

'We grabbed the male by the arm to take him out of the venue. 

'I realised something hit me on the head. So I turned back then I saw the female that was following us, she was waving a shoe.

'At that point I didn't know I was bleeding.

'We took the male out and I felt something dripping on my face, I thought it was water, I thought someone had thrown water at me.

'When I touched my face I realised I was bleeding, it was due to the stiletto shoe.'

Cross-examining Mr Tayo, defence solicitor Jo Sidhu suggested he used 'illegal methods of restraint' when he ejected the couple from the venue.

He said: 'You were leaning in with your body weight and gripping her neck with your finger and your thumb.

'You escalated this violence, your behaviour was unnecessarily aggressive.'

Grainy CCTV of Mr Tayo's body-cam was played in court showing a scuffle as the diminutive solicitor and her partner were thrown out of the venue.

Mr Sidhu continued: 'You are seen with your hand on this lady's neck swinging her around.

'You're treating her like a rag doll aren't you? You're manhandling her and her boyfriend and then you're grabbing him and bringing him to the ground.

'You assaulted her and you assaulted her fiancé, you used illegal methods of restraint, using your hands on their neck.'

Mr Tayo replied: 'That is incorrect. She was using the stiletto as a weapon.'

Hojatoleslami, of Silverworks Close, Edgware, denies assault by beating.

She qualified to the legal profession in May 2018 and has worked for Axiom Stone Solicitors since March this year.

According to her biography on her employers' website: 'Vahideh takes pride in her ability to form long lasting relationships with her clients, and appreciates the importance of understanding their business and practical objectives in providing advice that is both tailored and pragmatic.'

The trial ran out of time and resumes on August 20.

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