An act of discrimination against a disabled man has allegedly occurred at Biba’s Nightclub in Bromley.

Robert Boness, 33, of Orpington, has been in a wheelchair for 11 years following a collision in which he was paralysed from the chest down when a van ran into his scooter.

His mother Diane Boness said: “He is very independent and active- nothing stops him.”

On Saturday, November 5, Robert and his friends went to Biba’s nightclub during a night out together.

Robert said he and friends were having a very enjoyable night celebrating his friend’s birthday when they decided to go to the nightclub.

Upon arrival, a bouncer told him that the dancefloor was downstairs, the stairs down were narrow and the bouncers were not insured to carry him down.

Robert told him his friends could bring him down.

He said: “When I go to clubs in London I am usually brought to the front of the queue.”

When they arrived downstairs, Robert’s friends went on to the dancefloor but he was stopped from going on by another security guard.

After being told he could not go on he stayed around the edges while the guard stood behind him.

When his friends saw him there they asked the security guard why this was the case and the alleged reason was because a different wheelchair user had caused trouble before.

Robert said: “I felt offended, sectioned off and discriminated against.

“They tarred me with the same brush.”

Mrs Boness described it as “discrimination” and that her son was made to feel intimidated.

She said they made him feel as though he could not be left alone when in reality he lives away from home, looks after himself, drives and is “very independent”.

Manager of Biba’s nightclub Michael Broadfoot said: “We told him he could go down there if his friends stayed down there.

“His friends just left him there.”

Mr Broadfoot said that the previous wheelchair user was drinking and spinning around in his chair which had injured other people.

He also said there are health and safety issues when it comes to wheelchairs on the dancefloor.

He said: “The issues are that it’s a badly lit dancefloor, people are drinking and a wheelchair is lower than other people.

“We’ve had people fall into them not knowing they were there.”

Legally, the nightclub cannot refuse a wheelchair user entry or access to the dancefloor.

Mr Broadfoot was not aware of the legalities of the situation but said: “We don’t want to discriminate against anyone but some areas just aren’t suitable.

“We looked after him better than his friends did.

“There was no discrimination intended.”

Declan Reilly, whose birthday it was, said: "None of the group of people that were out that night for my birthday left Rob alone, when we found out that rob wasn't allowed on the dance floor we all stayed with him. 

"We've been to various night clubs without a problem and have always found the doormen more then helpful.

"The staff at Bibas were terrible and unhelpful which is a great shame."

Robert said if he ever goes back to Biba’s he will bring other wheelchair users with him.

He said: “If it’s not recognised that they are doing this to people, they could do it to someone else.”

Let me know your view: grainne.cuffe@london.newsquest.co.uk