Heaven nightclub closed after bouncer accused of raping drunken woman who was turned away

Heaven nightclub was closed immediately after a bouncer was accused of raping a drunk woman who was turned away from the venue.

The world-famous gay club has had its license suspended for 28 days following an emergency hearing at Westminster council on Friday.

The woman said she was attacked by a bouncer on November 1 and was then “ignored” when she tried to report the assault to other members of the club’s security staff, a- we learned during the meeting.

She had queued with friends to enter Paradise for around two hours before reaching the front, but was then “refused entry because she was too drunk”, the Met said in its testimony to the council.

The force added: “The (group) has left the queue and the victim approaches a member of security and asks if she can be allowed in so she can collect her friends who are already inside.

“The victim is then approached by another security guard who tells him he can help him get in.”

At the meeting, it was learned that the suspect took the woman away from the entrance of the nightclub and her friends and drove her to a side street.

She was described as “unstable and appears clearly drunk” on CCTV.

The footage shows the woman climbing into the back of the vehicle followed by the suspect and, while in the back of the car, he allegedly “had non-consensual sexual relations with the victim”, officers said to the licensing commission.

When she reported being assaulted to other security guards at Heaven, they allegedly “ignored” her, according to police.

The expedited license review revealed that detectives arrested the suspect in Heaven on November 11. A man has since been charged with rape.

Subsequent investigations showed that the man arrested was not authorized to work in the UK and may have “provided a false name to his employer in order to find work”.

The meeting also heard that on May 6, three members of the venue’s security team were filmed “assaulting a customer in the street”.

They were all subsequently dismissed, but a Met Police spokesperson said “the incidents raise serious concerns about the venue’s ability to meet its obligations to protect its customers.”

The force added in a statement: “A Westminster Council licensing hearing has ruled that the licensing of Heaven nightclub, near Villiers Street, should be suspended for up to 28 days, until a full hearing can take place.

“This will take effect immediately, which means that the Heavens will no longer open from this evening onwards.

“The hearing heard that in the early hours of Sunday, November 1, a woman was allegedly raped near the meeting venue by a member of security personnel.

“Other staff then allegedly ignored his efforts to report the attack.

“A member of security staff was arrested and has since been charged with rape. He is in pre-trial detention.

A Westminster Council spokesperson said: “Following a request from the Metropolitan Police and taking into account evidence from the police and the operator, the council’s licensing committee has decided to suspend Heaven’s license for 28 days.

“We recognize the cultural significance of this place, but the committee agreed that this measure is necessary to prevent serious crime and protect the public.

“A full permit hearing will be held in December.”

Amy Lame, who until last month was Sadiq Khan’s night czar, seemed to disagree with the decision to revoke Heaven’s license. She wrote on Instagram: “Our community is subjected to double standards, targeted by institutional homophobia and is the victim of a legally questionable interpretation of licensing regulations. Let the battle begin.”