THREE men responsible for violence which flared at a Cumbrian social club have been sentenced.
A judge at Carlisle Crown Court spoke of “absolute chaos, like the Wild West”, as serious trouble unfolded at the West Street venue in Wigton late on October 13.
This began when 27-year-old Thomas Peter Reynolds head-butted Kane Hull outside the club in Wigton on the night of October 13 in response to verbal provocation.
As Reynolds went inside, Hull, 25, followed with the support of 23-year-old pal Callum Kerr. Hull had hold of a bottle by the neck, and Kerr was armed with a knife as a melee – captured on CCTV ensued. Several people were said to have been injured, including one man who suffered a wound. Reynolds was also said to have thrown a table.
All three men pleaded guilty to affray. Hull and Kerr admitted possessing offensive weapons, and Kerr also admitted later damaging a carpet belonging to Cumbria police.
They were sentenced today (FRI). Kerr, of no fixed address, was jailed for three years, while Hull, of Aglionby, near Carlisle, was sent to prison for two-and-a-half years.
Reynolds, previously of Carlisle and now of Wigton, had a 24-month prison term suspended for two years, and must complete 250 hours’ unpaid work and a six-month night-time curfew.
Judge Peter Davies, passing sentence, said: “The CCTV shows absolute chaos; like the Wild West.”
Judge Davies added: “The chaos and the violence and the disturbance was caused by the three of you – and only the three of you.
“This was an absolutely dreadful offence.”
The West Street Social Club has subsequently had its license revoked.
Detective Constable Mark Rowlands said: “Both Hull and Kerr armed themselves before entering a busy club. Their actions as they ran round the club, one holding a broken glass bottle and the other a knife, would have caused panic in the club and led to a number of innocent bystanders suffering nasty injuries.
“I hope today’s sentence shows how seriously both the police and the criminal justice system takes such offences. Any time someone arms themselves there is the potential for tragic consequences.”
