Violence broke out, outside the ring, at a Newton Aycliffe boxing event, when an ejected man returned to attack a bouncer.
Drunken lout Shaun Chester ran towards the security man swinging a large metal pole after being removed from Aycliffe Big Club, on April 14, 2023.
He and Megan Gibson shouted and swore at door staff, warning them to “watch what f***ing happens now” as they were earlier escorted from the venue where the boxing night was being held, Durham Crown Court heard.
His behaviour at the community event, attended by a cross-section of age groups, earned him an eight-month prison sentence for affray this week, but Gibson failed to appear at court and a warrant was issued for her arrest.
Prosecutor Christine Egerton told the court the pair were escorted from the Sheraton Road club but returned at about 11pm, when Chester, armed with the pole, ran at a security officer and struck him to the kidney area.
He was left bruised and went to hospital for his injuries to be assessed.
Miss Egerton said as Chester was confronting the door staff member, there was a shout of “knife” from a colleague and security backed off into the club, locking the door and calling police.
Chester, of Clarence Corner, Newton Aycliffe, was arrested and taken to Darlington Police Station.
He later admitted a charge of affray at the first court appearance.
The court heard he has past convictions for public order matters.
Gibson, 26, of Clanny Road, Newton Aycliffe, who was facing sentence for affray and dangerous driving, failed to appear for the scheduled sentencing hearing and a bench warrant was issued for her arrest.
In mitigation, David Ward, for Chester, said the 28-year-old engaged with past court orders and hopes to return to work as a factory operative.
He said the defendant has striven to overcome drug and alcohol issues and has tested negative for use of both since New Year’s Eve.
He added that Chester told him no longer speaks much to Gibson and seems to be, “putting a distance, between his old life and his new life.”
Jailing him, Judge Jo Kidd said: “You were clearly heavily intoxicated and created issues within that building where young people were present, and you were quite rightly asked to leave.
“You returned later, still intoxicated, armed with a weapon, and committed an attack on people involved in security, doing their work in a difficult volatile situation.
“You were in the company of at least two other people, with one, at least, armed with a knife.
“The message needs to go out clearly that people protecting the public are entitled to be protected by the courts.”
Source – Northern Echo
