Fellow holiday goers had their trip disturbed when a huge fight broke out between two families.
Several people were enjoying a getaway at Haggerston Castle Holiday Park, in Northumberland, before two nearby caravans erupted into a violent brawl. John Ward was not involved until he “saw red” when his mother was “dragged out” of the park by security.
After this, 20 people got involved including 23-year-old John threw a punch which managed to smash a gin glass. The fight continued, with several children terrified for their lives, as reports Teeside Live.
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Matthew Hopkins, prosecuting at Newcastle Crown Court, said: "The case concerns a fight that took place about 9pm on Sunday, March 17 this year in the live lounge bar inside Haggerston Castle Caravan Park between two families. It involved a large number of people, perhaps 15 or 20 at times and it was caught on CCTV.
"Essentially there was a fight between some women, a security guard tried to move the women away and the defendant saw that and went charging in." Mr Hopkins said the CCTV showed some women having a fight and then one woman - Ward said it was his mother - being escorted out of the dining area by security.
Ward was then seen to pick up a bottle and try to smash it on a table before running forward into an adjacent room where his mother had been taken. He was disarmed by a security guard but then went back into the dining area and picked up a gin glass, which he smashed on a table.
He was then put into a bear hug by a security guard and was told to drop the glass, which he did. Ward was seen to punch someone in the face at one point.
The court heard children were present in the busy dining area as the trouble flared and some were upset. Mr Hopkins said: "The Crown say it's inconceivable when one looks at the children, some of whom are crying in the footage and holding onto their parents, that there was no serious fear and distress caused."
Ward, of Lake View Caravan Park, Stoke-on-Trent, who has 12 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to affray and possessing an offensive weapon. He was sentenced to 18 months, suspended for 18 months, with 150 hours unpaid work and he must do a "thinking skills programme”.
Judge Gavin Doig said it was a "quite large scale" and "unpleasant" incident. He added: "I've seen children present. There would have been serious fear or distress caused to, probably, a whole series of members of the public, young and old, by your actions."
Liam O'Brien, mitigating, said: "He is quite an immature 23-year-old. He lost a series of family members and his family travelled to the caravan park to try to put that behind him and have a nice time.”
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