Ben Stokes "lost his control" and "mocked" a gay couple's "camp behaviour", a court heard on Monday as the England cricketer's trial for affray began.
Prosecutor Nicholas Corsellis told a jury at Bristol Crown Court on Monday that Stokes was found to have acted in "revenge, retaliation or punishment" in a "sustained episode of significant violence".
Stokes knocked two men unconscious in a street fight on September 25 last year.
The fight took place outside a Bristol nightclub after 2am, the prosecutor said, just hours after Stokes featured in a one-day international over West Indies.
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Stokes (27) is being tried alongside Ryan Ali (27) and Ryan Hale (28). All had been drinking inside a Bristol nightclub, and it's alleged all involved threatened and/or used unlawful violence towards each other. Each deny the charge of affray.
The all-rounder missed last summer's Ashes series in Australia after he was suspended from playing for England.
In his absence, England fell to a crushing 4-0 series defeat, surrendering the urn back to the Aussies.
Stokes has since played in Test series against New Zealand and Pakistan, and only on Saturday, he was at the centre of England's thrilling Test win over India at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
However, on Monday, Corsellis said only the defendants knew how the drama began, and that they were "well beyond acting in self defence or defence of another".
"During the incident. Mr Stokes lost his control and started to attack with revenge, retaliation or punishment in mind," he said.
"He knocked Mr Hale unconscious and then, after time to pause for thought, to calm, he did exactly the same to Mr Ali.
"Mr Ali received significant injuries included a fractured eye socket and required hospital treatment.
"This was not a trivial moment of unpleasantness. It was a sustained episode of significant violence that left onlookers shocked at what was taking place.
"A bottle was used at the beginning by Mr Ali and a broken street sign brought into the fray towards the end by Mr Hale."
The court also heard Stokes mocked two gay men, "mimicking their voices and mannerisms in a derogatory manner".
Footage was shown that the prosecution said depicted Stokes mocking Kai Barry and William O'Connor, who were described as a "flamboyant, extrovert and openly gay young couple".
Stokes, who also flicked the stub of a lit cigarette towards the head of O’Connor, also allegedly abused a doorman in a foul-mouthed rant after being refused entry into the club, a jury was told.
Corsellis said all three defendants were men with reputable promise, but that didn't defend them from their duty to behave.
"Ben Stokes is a professional cricket player who has reached the top of his profession and represented his country," he said.
"Equally, Mr Ali has worked for the emergency services and Mr Hale has served his country in the armed forces.
"It almost goes without saying, but past success, fame or good deeds does not absolve you from your duty - and the law - to behave yourself."
The trial is expected to last between five and seven days.
Stokes will miss the second Test between against India at Lord's in London, which gets underway on Thursday.
