A bar in a popular family caravan park descended into chaos when a chair and punches were thrown during a large brawl.
Ben Watson and Liam Clish were among those involved in the fight, which took place in front of some children, at Whitely Bay Holiday Park in September last year. A court heard that most of the violence was caught on CCTV and Watson was seen throwing a chair, which struck a man on the head.
Magistrates heard that the victim was left with a one-inch cut to his forehead. Meanwhile, Clish was seen to punch another man during the fracas, although no injury was reported.
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Watson, 27, of Chester Place, in Peterlee, and Clish, 25, of Reynolds Court, also Peterlee, County Durham, appeared separately in the dock at Newcastle Magistrates' Court. The former pleaded guilty to affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, while the latter admitted affray.
Rob Lawson, prosecuting, said the fight broke out in the bar area of the caravan park on September 24 last year and most of it was captured on CCTV. The footage showed Watson throwing a chair, which hit a male on the head, causing the injury.
Mr Lawon added: "The defendant Clish got involved after the fight had started. He can be seen to swing a punch at another person. That person ends up on the ground. There was no weapon used, as there was in the case of defendant Watson. There's no complaint of injury from the person who was punched by Mr Clish."
The court heard that Watson had been staying at the park with his partner and her brother and had drank excessively on the night in question. Mark Humble, defending, added: "Lots of people were involved in this fight after words were exchanged.
"Mr Watson has little recollection of what had gone on due to the amount of alcohol he had consumed. He is remorseful. He's got no previous convictions."
Magistrates heard that Clish, who had also never been in trouble with the courts before, had got involved in the brawl after he'd been struck while walking with his young son. Mr Humble added: "This defendant would not have involved himself in the violence had he not have been struck himself. However, his reaction to that was not appropriate."
Watson was given a 12-month community order, with 100 hours of unpaid work, and must pay his victim £250 compensation. He must also cough-up £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge. Clish was fined £500 and must pay £85 costs and a £200 victim surcharge.
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