Nightclub bans girl on crutches

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 23rd Sep 2007

A disabled woman was turned away from a Devon town's nightclub after staff said her crutches could be used as weapons. Jennifer Bartle, 20, who suffers from a bone disease, was out with two friends when she tried to get into the Hush Enigma Club in Newton Abbot.

But four security staff said she could only enter the premises if she handed in her crutches. The nightclub said the ban was imposed after taking legal advice in the wake of two violent incidents.

Miss Bartle has won backing from disability rights campaigners who branded the decision "ludicrous". Bath University student Miss Bartle, who cannot walk without the crutches, said: "It made me very angry and humiliated. It has really knocked my confidence."

Sue Ewan, manager of Hush Enigma, said the ban was imposed on legal advice. "We were assured we would not be infringing any discrimination legislation," she said.

The Disability Rights Commission said: "We think it is absolutely ludicrous. Any unfixed object can be used as a weapon. "To single her out for this treatment is quite appalling and we have advised her of her rights and what to do next."

Local MP Richard Younger-Ross said: "This is an unbelievable decision by the nightclub to deny a young disabled girl access. "The club are almost certainly in breach of the disability rights legislation."