Security guards have been slammed for spraying red paint at brawling concert goers 'making them think they'd been injured'.
A judge said the move by security staff at a Stranglers gig inflamed an already volatile situation because brawlers initially believed the paint was blood.
It comes as six people attending the concert at Victoria Hall in Hanley, in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire were sentenced for their part in the disturbance.
The violence erupted on January 31, 2022 as the 70s rockers performed on stage, with some of the defendents punching and kicking the security team.
The trouble then spilled onto the street outside the venue as fighting continued inside. At one point, gig-goers had to be ushered back inside the concert hall for their own safety.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard security were criticised for their handling of the brawl - in particular the spraying of red paint.
During the hearing, Judge Graeme Smith asked for an update on whether consideration had been given to charging door staff "given the manager considers their actions to go beyond restraint", Stoke-on-Trent Live reports.
Now the six defendants - five men and one woman, some of whom are related - have avoided jail.
They are Lloyd Stubbs, 31, of Yardley Place, Blurton; Martin Allison, 35, of Ruthin Road, Bentilee; Blake Donnelly, 30, of Bournes Bank, Burslem; Patrick Martin, 57, Hayley Martin, 30, and Jack Martin, 23, all of Winchester Avenue, Bucknall.
During police interviews some of the defendants blamed security staff, with Martin Allison calling their actions 'appalling’.
Prosecutor Syed Ahmed told the court: “On 31 January last year there was a concert at Victoria Hall in Hanley and shortly before 10pm Patrick Martin and the venue manager saw two others at the bar. They were refused service as they had earlier been shouting at bar staff and were intoxicated.
“The males were abusive and one of them shouted ‘f*** you'. Things appeared to calm but then fighting started. The venue manager saw punches and kicks to the security team and the group were pushed out of the venue and then violence erupted outside.
“The group were attempting to fight their way back inside and then a brawl ensued. The front of house manager sent bar staff sent into a back room for their safety and heard one male shout ‘come on then I will f*** you up'."
The court were shown two pieces of CCTV of the 10 minute incident both from inside Victoria Hall and the outside of the building.
CCTV footage captured the brawl inside the venue, which then moves outside as security attempt to remove them from the building. But ultimately the fighting spiralled back inside.
All six defendants pleaded guilty to public order offences.
Mitigating for Lloyd Stubbs and Patrick Martin, Andrew Turnock said: “Both defendants accepted wrongdoing. They accepted what can only be described as disgraceful behaviour. They will be held to account for their behaviour. That is not the end of the story, the behaviour of some of the door staff was dismal and far beyond what their role should have involved.
“Patrick Martin and others were covered in a red substance which might have been blood and it was certainly the impression of some of them in the heat of what was going on that some of their contingent had been injured and the red substance was blood, which turned out to be red paint.
“That substance was sprayed on the defendants by some member of door staff but that is no recognised technique and served to inflame the situation, an unlawful act essentially.”
Carl Buckley, mitigating for Hayley Martin and Blake Donnelly, said: “On at least one occasion Mr Donnelly can be seen stood in the doorway and having his head in what can only be described as slammed into the doorway by security.
“Ms Martin, it would appear that she was punched on at least one occasion by security officers and pushed on other occasions. Both defendants readily accept their involvement in the incident but what I seek to differentiate is this is not a case where the defendants went out with the intention of causing violence.”
Mitigating for Jack Martin, Hamish Noble said: “He absolutely acknowledges that in that report that he was wrong to act how he did and has described his behaviour as stupid.
“In his interview with the probation service he does not seek to minimise his behaviour or justify his behaviour. This is not the behaviour Jack Martin would normally display. His risk of reoffending is low and he knows what he’s done is wrong”
Referring to Martin Allison, Mr Noble commented: “He is a family man, he has a partner of five years and has three daughters who are his partner's daughters but who treat him as a father and he is a father to them.
“His partner works part time, he is the main breadwinner, he has settled occupation, self-employed roofing and the family are reliant on him.”
Judge Graeme Smith told the defendants: “All six of you were involved to a greater or lesser extent, I have seen the whole of the CCTV footage, not just the parts which were played in court today because time was limited.
“I have also read a number of the witness statements which have not been heard in court today, there has been some criticism, and in my view some of it extremely justified about the actions of some, not all of the security or door staff which were on duty that night.
“Some of them clearly in their actions went well beyond what they should have been doing to deal with any further disturbance, that included spraying some form of dye on a number of you and I can understand why, pun intended, you saw red as a result of that because it was indeed red and it does look on the CCTV footage as if some of you have been injured.
“That does explain a reason why some of you might have acted in the extreme way we see. However, one has to step back from that even though they did act in that way it has been accepted on your behalf your own conduct was, and I use the word from this morning ‘disgraceful’."
Lloyd Stubbs was handed a 15-month community order with 15 rehabilitation activity days and a 90-day alcohol abstinence programme.
Judge Smith said due to Hayley Martin attacking multiple police officers her case was aggravated. She was sentenced to 19 months in custody suspended for 18 months. She must also complete 15 rehabilitation activity days and 180 hours of unpaid work
Martin Allison was told by the judge that he played the least significant role of any one in the dock. He was handed a 10-month community order with 20 rehabilitation activity days and 40 hours of unpaid work.
Patrick Martin was sentenced to 20 months in custody suspended for 15 months with 30 rehabilitation activity days and 150 hours of unpaid work.
Jack Martin was sentenced to 20 months in prison suspended for 15 months with 15 rehabilitation activity days and 150 hours of unpaid work. Blake Donnelly will be sentenced at a later date once he has met with the probation service.
