A CONSERVATIVE Club which hosted a blood-soaked wrestling “death match” in front of children has been fined, a council has said.
The New Seaham Conservative Club in County Durham hosted the brutal fights on April 29, 2022 and was taken to court by the local council for alleged breaches of their licencing restrictions.
At Peterlee Magistrates Court, the club pleaded guilty to three charges including hosting the event, organised by Colliery Championship Wrestling (CCW) – a mining-themed professional wrestling company – without a proper licence, Durham County Council said in a statement.
Footage of the event showed a wrestler being hit with a fluorescent light tube and the BBC reported another clip showed one combatant being attacked with a garden strimmer.
In the clips, children can be seen in the audience, the council said.
A wrestling “death match” sees fighters attack one another with weapons and other objects.
The BBC reported that last year James Barrass, a CCW fight promoter, said the match between wrestlers Ronnie Thatcher and Blizzard had “escalated” and he had not known weapons would be used.
He told the BBC: "Things can sometimes not go to plan. Obviously there was a little bit more that went down.
"I spoke to the two guys afterwards. We had discussions and obviously that will not be happening again."
Barrass added: “We have apologised but how many times do you say sorry? How many times do you have to be penalised in life?"
The council said the prosecution of the club followed a complaint being made about the event.
During the hearing, a club official contended that children who remained present after the event finished at 10.07pm were family members of the organisers and that non-members had been signed in as guests, Durham County Council said.
Magistrates imposed a fine of £300 and ordered the club to pay £550 in costs and a £120 victim surcharge, the local authority said in a press release.
Ian Harrison, Durham County Council’s business compliance manager, said: "Licensing is in place for a number of reasons including public safety and the protection of children from harm.
“It is therefore really important that, as most County Durham establishments do, venues make sure they have a license, adhere to its conditions and ensure it covers any activities they want to organise.
"In this case, the club hosted live wrestling despite its licence not allowing it to do so and without a temporary event notice having been applied for to legitimise the activity.
“It also allowed children to be present after 10pm and sold alcohol to non-members, both without the appropriate authorisation.
"What followed was an event at which children were exposed to violence, and wrestlers covered in blood.
"We have taken this matter extremely seriously as this prosecution proves and we hope the three convictions the club now finds itself with act as a reminder to venues of the importance of complying with licensing legislation."
