A PASSENGER on a P&O cruise and his boxing YouTuber ex ended up in a violent brawl with a family after being asked to stop making lewd remarks at their autistic teenage daughter, a court heard.
On board P&O's Royal Britannia ship, a boozy late night buffet spiralled into chaos after a fight erupted - allegedly sparked when a family asked an "intoxicated" guest to stop swearing as they dined.
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Paul Evans denies one charge of robbery and three charges of causing actual bodily harm Credit: Solent 5
Brit YouTuber Tabatha Young was arrested following the brawl on board a cruise Credit: Solent
Tempers flared as the ship sailed through the Norwegian Fjords, however, and statistician Justin Gardner, his nurse wife Sarah and daughter Alice were all assaulted as 45-year-old Paul Evans launched into a "violent and chaotic" attack, a court heard.
After enjoying a family disco, the Gardners headed to the Horizon buffet but became upset by the language from a neighbouring table as Evans allegedly shouted at them that he wanted to "f***" their deaf teenage daughter.
But after Alice Gardner, 21, asked Evans to stop swearing, the jury heard how a brawl quickly ensued - instigated by his former girlfriend and boxing YouTuber, Tabatha Young.
Mrs Gardner tried to film Evans on a phone for "evidence" as he held one hand around her daughter's neck and punched her "continuously" with the other, the court was told.
But he then turned his "rage" on Mrs Gardner by "rugby tackling" her to the ground, snatching the mobile phone and hurling it out to sea, the jury heard.
Evans is accused of one count of robbery and three counts of actual bodily harm following the extraordinary scenes on the 16th floor of the cruise ship during the early hours of July 26, 2019.
The ship had just left Bergen, Norway, a few hours earlier and was five days into a seven-night tour of Norway's famous fjords, with a suite on the Britannia for this cruise currently costing from ￡1,429 per person.
Southampton Crown Court heard the Gardners had headed to the buffet as their 16-year-old daughter Amelia, who has autism and is deaf, wanted something to eat before going to bed at 1am.
Prosecutor Mark Ashley told the court: "Mr Evans was intoxicated and when he was near their table, he was using language which a number of people found offensive."
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The brawl erupted on P&O's Royal Britannia ship during a cruise of the Norwegian Fjords Credit: Solent 5
Young, who interviews boxers on YouTube, pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm last year Credit: Solent
Mrs Gardner told the court she, her husband and daughter Alice had had a few drinks each, but were not drunk.
She then wept as she recalled sitting in the Horizon buffet and hearing Evans say "I want to s*** her" and "I would like to f*** her" in what she believes were comments directed at Amelia.
The mum-of-three - whose son had already gone to bed that night - said: "I felt very anxious. We carried on ignoring him and then my eldest daughter said 'please can you stop talking like that'.
"Then (Tabatha Young) flew up from another table and started attacking my daughter Alice by pushing her.
"I tried to separate Tabatha and Alice. I was trying to calm the situation down but Tabatha punched her and attacked Alice.
"Then Mr Evans flew up from his seat and punched my husband who had been standing at the table with my other daughter who was very upset."
The court heard Mr Gardner was struck on the side of the head before falling to the floor.
His nose was bleeding, his glasses were smashed and he was rendered unconscious, his wife told the court.
Mrs Gardner then described Evans turning on Alice as she saw him move on top of her with one hand around her neck and using the other to "punch her repeatedly".
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Evans allegedly 'rugby tackled' a cruise passenger during the dispute Credit: Solent
"Then I was trying to pull him off her and he punched me," she added.
"Then I felt calm and got my husband's mobile phone from his suit pocket and started to film him so I could get evidence.
"I was shouting for the kitchen staff but they were just all lined up watching us. It was quite frightening. I did not understand why they were not helping us."
After spotting he was being filmed, the court heard Evans turned on Mrs Gardner and she was "rugby tackled" to the ground.
"He wrestled me for the phone," she said. "He was punching and kicking me. I was trying to hold on to the phone because my husband uses it for work. He (Evans) was in such a rage.
"He pulled the phone off me and was twisting my arm. I knew what he was going to do with the phone and did not chase after because I was worried he would throw me overboard."
Evans was captured on CCTV throwing the mobile into the sea, Mr Ashley told the court.
The court heard Evans returned to the dining room and the brawl continued before both him and his partner were eventually restrained by security.
Jurors were told Evans even attacked security and threw plates and glasses to the horror of other guests. Mrs Gardner told the court she had heard one call him a 'horrible man'.
Both Evans and Young were taken into custody by police once the ship docked at Southampton.
The court were shown pictures of bruising to Mrs Gardner's legs, foot, arm and hip.
A bite mark was also found on her arm believed to have been inflicted by Young, the court heard.
Young, who interviews boxers on YouTube, pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm last year.
Evans denies one charge of robbery and three charges of causing actual bodily harm.
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P&O desribes its Norwegian Fjords Cruise Holidays as "a once-in-a-lifetime experience".
The company's pitch reads: "One of the most spectacular regions of the world, many argue that the only way to truly appreciate the scenery of the Norwegian Fjords is to sail through them."
The trial continues.