Queenstown bouncer charged with assault

TIM CLAYTON/Fairfax NZ

BRUSH WITH FAME: Jonathan Dixon gained public attention during the Rugby World Cup when he posted incriminating footage of English player Mike Tindall online.

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The bouncer who shot to fame after footage of England rugby captain Mike Tindall with a blonde appeared on the internet has been charged with a violent assault.

Jonathan Dixon was arrested yesterday and charged with wounding with reckless disregard causing grievous bodily harm at a Queenstown bar last Saturday morning.

The assault left bar manager Jordan Sinke in an induced coma in Dunedin Hospital.

Police did not name Dixon yesterday when they said they had arrested a 40-year-old Queenstown man in relation to the assault. He also faced another charge of assault on a friend of Sinke.

The arrest followed a week-long investigation during which police gathered information from about a dozen witnesses who were at the Subculture Bar about 3am last Saturday.

The arrested man had been released on court imposed bail conditions and was due to appear in Queenstown District Court on Monday.

Jordan Sinke's father Richard Sinke said surgeons had to remove a bone flap to ease brain swelling.

His son had come out of an induced coma a day or so ago, Sinke said today.

"Thank goodness" Jordan was now definitely improving.

"It's been a hell of a week," Sinke said.

"He is recovering. We can say that at this stage."

Jordan was moved out of intensive care yesterday into a high-dependency unit.

"He is aware of his surroundings, knows who we are. We're keeping him pretty quiet."

Jordan was "talking a little bit".

The YouTube clip of English rugby player Tindall, the husband of the Queen's granddaughter Zara Phillips, was intercut with comments from Dixon.

Dixon was charged with accessing a computer system for dishonest purposes after the appearance of the clip, which was taken at a bar where he worked as a bouncer.

He has denied the charge.

- © Fairfax NZ News