Nine men from the same family have been jailed after a 50 person 'bloodbath' brawl erupted at a wedding. The brutal punch-up left the walls of the hotel hosting the event 'covered in blood and glass', reports the Mirror.
The incident occurred back in 2019 at the Daresbury Park Hotel in Cheshire, with members of the Stokes family wading into the violence. A barman told says that he witnessed 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 showed at court showed glasses and chairs being thrown across the room as displays were torn down and tables were overturned. The massive brawl caused £18,000 worth of damage at the hotel and spa.
Alongside the extensive damages, which the Stokes family have paid for, £300 of alcohol was stolen 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”.
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. The latest to face punishment was Michael Stokes, 56.
The 56-year-old managed to dislocate his shoulder by throwing a chair during the fight. CCTV footage played in court showed him throwing chairs and more than ten glasses across the room.
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.
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.”
For his crimes, Michael Stokes was sentenced to two years in prison.
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