A fight at a Nottingham bar turned the Broadway area of the city "into the wild west" on the second night after lockdown restrictions were lifted. Chairs and tables were used as weapons during the "large scale public disturbance" on May 2, 2021 outside the LaceHouse.
Nottingham Crown Court heard there were more than 100 people hoping to enjoy that Sunday evening at bars and pubs in the city. Furniture and chairs were picked up and used as weapons, the court was told, with multiple police officers deployed to the area to deal with the incident. By the time police arrived, most of those involved had dispersed from the scene.
The court heard the most seriously injured were those involved in the incident and not members of the public. Jeremy Jaines, prosecuting, said: "This was an incident where the most severely injured were the protagonists themselves.
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"There were lots of people watching but thankfully it didn't spill much beyond this group of men. Some who were present described it as 'carnage' and 'complete chaos', even 'absolute mayhem'."
The fight started because three men, Ozzie Smith, 19, Tommy Wiles, 21, and Joe Steed, 24, had all travelled from the Cambridgeshire area for a night out in Nottingham city centre.
Another group from Nottingham had turned up at around 7.30pm. This group were not wearing face coverings, as they were instructed to do by the bar, and didn't have track and trace. Despite the manager of the bar offering to refund their booking, the group weren't happy at the idea of being turned away, the court was told.
They "basically tried to force their way in" and, at that point, the group from Cambridgeshire aligned themselves with the door staff - which is when the brawl broke out. The incident was picked up on CCTV which showed the men fighting before police arrived - one used a circular table to threaten other members of the group, the court heard.
There was modest damage done to the table and furniture used, but no serious injuries were suffered after the incident. The court was told that Jack Gilchrist, 24, from Nottingham, began the trouble and had to be restrained having thrown the first punch - punching Wiles while he was on the floor injured.
Meanwhile Jaiden Baylis, who is also 24 and from Nottingham, threw a chair into the group and punched Wiles in the head, while Ben Barrett, 24, landed six punches and a kick during the fight.
All men pleaded guilty to affray and were handed suspended prison sentences, while some were also given unpaid work and rehabilitation days.
Sentencing the men, Judge Steven Coupland said: "On May 2 last year, two days after lockdown, the Broadway area of Nottingham was packed with people enjoying a peaceful drink - something we'd all been waiting for for a very long time.
"You all played your part in ruining that experience by turning that area into the wild west. For little over 10 minutes, people fled that part of Nottingham, with some of you throwing tables, bottles and glasses. You risked serious injury to members of the public."
The verdicts in full:
Kieran Pickard, of Mayes Rise, Bestwood, pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for 18 months.
Jordan O'Keefe, of Nell Gwyn Crescent, Bestwood, pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months, along with 150 hours of unpaid work.
Jack Marshall, of Kempsey Close, Top Valley, pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for 12 months.
Ben Barrett, of Northcote Way, Bulwell, pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to eight months imprisonment suspended for 18 months, along with 150 hours of unpaid work.
Joe Steed, of Pedley Lane, Wisbech, pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months while also being placed on a curfew via an electronic tag.
Ozzie Smith, of Baulkins Drove, Spalding, pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to nine months imprisonment suspended for 18 months along with 150 hours of unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation days.
Brandon Stapley, of Watnall Road, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months and 150 hours of unpaid work.
Jack Gilchrist, Bestwood Lodge Drive, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months and 150 hours of unpaid work.
Tommy Wiles, Hollycroft Road, Wisbech, pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months, as well as 150 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation days.
Jaiden Baylis, of Syke Road, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to nine months imprisonment suspended for 18 months and 150 hours of unpaid work.
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