A violent row has erupted between a group of alleged urban explorers and a family who own an abandoned bar as chaotic scenes filmed outside the venue saw bottles being smashed and a man jumping on a car.
The confrontation took place outside Colosseum in Huddersfield, which owner Ian Snowball wants to develop the abandoned building into ‘Europe’s biggest bar.
Video footage appeared to show Mr Snowball’s son Alex Snowball jumping on a car outside the venue. Alex’s brother Adam says the pair of them were with their dad reviewing CCTV footage when they saw a group pull up in a car and allegedly try to get into Colosseum through a window.
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"When we got there, we caught a man in a red shirt and a child inside the property and they promptly got out and ran to two larger males,” Adam told YorkshireLive. “We informed them that they were trespassing on our property and that the police had been called.
"We noticed that the car ignition was running so we dropped a couple of bins over to prevent them from fleeing the scene. What followed was chaotic."
Adam claims his dad was “kicked over into a pile of broken glass” and says someone “tried to assault his brother”. He then claims a car was "accelerated towards them” by allegedly driving onto a footpath.
He said: “Alex was between the car and me, unable to move to the left, right, or backwards due to a wall, the concrete bollards and the bins so was unable to get out of the way of the car and was only able to move towards the car or get run over.
"Knowing he couldn't get out of the way of the accelerating car he made the only decision that wouldn't result in being run over by the car - he jumped over it.
"While the casual observer might think he looks a bit mad smashing glass on the floor, it's actually a very logical move and it served its purpose; glass can potentially cause damage to a car tyre passing over it and the driver would be aware of this. The driver did not attempt to drive towards us again."
Kyle Urbex, who is one of the urban explorers involved in the confrontation with the Snowballs, says he didn’t break into the premises, which is located opposite The University of Huddersfield, and claims bottles were smashed to “prevent our car from moving”.
Kyle, who says he was in a car with a woman and two children, said: "The female attempted to drive out of the alleyway when Alex Snowball jumped on the car while two children aged four and eight were inside screaming and jumped on the roof several times causing significant damage to the car roof and the bonnet of the car.
“This was captured on video of them smashing bottles and standing on the car. It's not the sort of behaviour that needs to commence especially when young children are present."
Ian Snowball claims that CCTV footage shows a "large group of people descended on the Colosseum”. Describing the confrontation, he said: “We acted to the highest professional standards, standing our ground, refusing to allow them to leave the scene and resisting all temptation to retaliate in an aggressive or hostile manner towards them."
In relation to the ongoing row, West Yorkshire Police have confirmed there was an incident of "affray" outside the venue and that they are investigating allegations of burglary.
A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: "Enquiries are ongoing following a break-in and related public order incident in Huddersfield in June 19. Kirklees Police is continuing to investigate the incidents in which individuals broke into a bar on Zetland Street in Huddersfield between 7pm and 7.40pm during the evening of June 19.
"A related affray incident then took place outside the premises, which involved damage to a vehicle. No-one was injured in the incident. Police have recorded offences of burglary and affray in relation to what took place and would like to speak with anyone who can assist police enquiries.
Anyone who witnessed what occurred or has footage or information is asked to contact Kirklees Police via their website or on 101 referencing crime number 13230340857. Information can also be given anonymously to the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.
