Hooligans in court over mass brawl at Coventry pub

[dutchman]

Three hooligans have appeared in court to be sentenced for their part in a mass brawl at a Coventry pub.



Sean O’Sullivan, 28, of Dorchester Way, Walsgrave; Connor Ward, 20, of North Street, Stoke; and Marcus Richardson, 22, of Ingram Road, Canley, all appeared at Coventry Crown Court on Monday.

The trio were involved in a fight at the Four Provinces, in Allesley Old Road, Chapelfields, in the early hours of Sunday, March 7.

CCTV footage shown in court showed how violence flared after Richardson was pushed against a wall.

Innocent customers then ran from the pub as Richardson stormed through the premises armed with a glass bottle.

His co-defendants and others then joined in the fight, which continued outside when they were ordered to leave.

John Brotherton, prosecuting, explained how one person and a doorman were hurt in the attack.

“The complainant was out with his friends celebrating the birth of a child,” he said.

“They had been drinking throughout the course of the evening and the incident broke out in the early hours.”

The trio were later identified by police and tracked down during a three-month long investigation, Mr Brotherton said.

O’Sullivan was charged with affray, Ward for using threatening words and behaviour and Richardson for wounding.

They all pleaded guilty.

Alexander Jacobs, defending Richardson, explained that although his client had armed himself with a bottle and hit a man twice on the head, “he was not a prime mover in this case”.

Graham Russell, defending Ward, said: “Ward didn’t involve himself, he was at the back of the room, gesticulating through the window.”

Sanjeev Sharma, defending O’Sullivan, added: “He had drunk too much and this was a consequence of that action but those days are long behind him.”

Recorder Julian Matthews, who described the episode as “disgusting” and “ugly”, sentenced Richardson to 12 months in prison suspended for two years.

He also ordered him to perform 300 hours of unpaid work and pay £500 in compensation.

O’Sullivan was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for 12 months and was ordered to perform 200 hours of unpaid work with a 12-month supervision order.

Ward was sentenced to a 12 month community service order and a 12-month supervision order.