Nine members of the same family were jailed after a 50-person ‘bloodbath’ brawl at a wedding.
The massive brawl caused £18,000 worth of damage at the Daresbury Park Hotel in Cheshire and left the walls covered in blood and glass.
The Stokes family waded into the violence which saw some guests barricade themselves into a function room in a desperate attempt to stay safe.
The fight broke out around 11:15pm on June 26, 2019 at the hotel and spa in Warrington.
John Stokes, 23, John Steven Stokes, 27, Stephen Stokes, 25, Brian Stokes, 25, Edward Joseph Stokes, 21, Thomas Stokes, 30, Edward William Stokes, 28, and Terry Stokes, 36, were all jailed for the mayhem.
Another relative, Edward Stokes, 50, was given a suspended sentence for a lesser charge of threatening behaviour.
Most recently, Michael Stokes, 56, became the ninth family member jailed, after he managed to dislocate his shoulder by throwing a chair during the fight.
A barman said he saw three men arguing as he left to collect items from the main bar, but by the time he had returned a huge fight had broken out.
CCTV footage played in court showed glasses and chairs being hurled across the room as displays were torn down and tables were overturned.
Michael Stokes was seen on the footage throwing chairs and more than ten glasses across the room.
Alongside the extensive damages, which the Stokes family have paid for, £300 of alcohol was nicked and glass was taken for weapons.
In a statement, the hotel manager said the incident was the “worst he had ever seen in his career” as the dance floor and walls were covered in blood and glass.
The wedding planner also said that nine years of stock was destroyed, which left them struggling to supply other weddings who had hired them.
Stokes previously pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder. During his police interview he gave no replies after initially claiming he acted in self defence.
Stokes has a previous conviction for the same charge of violent disorder in 2013, which he was jailed for two years. He also has previous convictions of dishonesty.
On the repeat of the violent disorder offence, Judge Simon Berkson remarked that Stokes has "clearly not learnt his lesson".
In defence of his client, Dafydd Roberts said that Stokes dislocated his shoulder during the violence and had to be treated in hospital.
He claimed that as Stokes had not reoffended since 2015 it was “not an entrenched pattern of offending”.
Before sentencing, Judge Berkson said: “The events of that day were truly shocking to anyone who saw them.
"For those present and innocent, one can only imagine the fear. What should have been a happy occasion, a wedding, turned into a bloodbath.
“The suite was set up for a celebration, with a DJ playing music, people dancing and enjoying themselves. This came to an end when violence broke out. You participated in an incident with widespread violence.
"It was persistent and sustained, causing serious disruption and a substantial effect on businesses.
"It ruined the day of the newlywed couple. In my judgement, the nature and extent of the event means punishment can only be achieved through immediate imprisonment.
“The public would be rightly aghast if they saw what I have seen and an immediate custodial sentence was not passed.”
Stokes, of Crewe, Cheshire, was sentenced to two years in prison.
Edward William Stokes, 28, of Milton Keynes, was sentenced to 27 months in prison.
Terry Stokes, 36, of Winsford, Cheshire, was jailed for 21 months.
Thomas Stokes, 30, of Milton Keynes, was sentenced for 25 months.
John Christopher Stokes, 23, of Antrim, Northern Ireland, was sentenced to 16 months.
Stephen Stokes, 25, of Fairfield, Warrington, was jailed for 20 months.
Brain Stokes, 25, of Crewe, Cheshire, was sentenced to 18 months in jail.
John Steven Stokes, 27, of Crewe, Cheshire, was jailed for 21 months.
Edward Joseph Stokes, 21, of Crewe, Cheshire, was sentenced for 18 months.
Edward Stokes, 50, of Crewe, was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.
