Inquest hears of Wild West-style brawl
A man died after a 'Wild West-style brawl at a south Wales pub, an inquest heard last week.
Ian Wood, 25, severed an artery as he put his hand through a smashed window to get a car jack he had thrown. A verdict of accidental death was recorded at Newport Coroners Court.
The brawl at the Beech pub in Ystrad Mynach began when men armed with pool cues and microphone stands argued with a pub singer. Wood and Craig Wangiel, 21, began arguing with pub entertainer Robbie Blanchard, 30, and his 27-year-old brother Jamie outside the pub. This escalated into violence and Wangiel hit Robbie Blanchard with a plank of wood.
Coroner David Bowen told the inquest that CCTV footage of the incident was 'more worthy of the Wild West than of the village of Ystrad Mynach. He said the CCTV showed Wood throwing a car jack through the pub window, which shattered. When Wood tried to retrieve the item, a 'torrent of blood was released from his arm.
Wood drove away from the scene and police later found him collapsed behind the wheel of the car. He died later in hospital
Man jailed following sword incident
A man who threatened a pub-goer with a sword in a pub car park has been jailed.
Gavin French, 28, was in an argument with a drinker at the Montfort Arms in Horseheath, Cambridgeshire, on 3 October 2004, Cambridgeshire Crown Court heard last week.
French drew the sword as the man entered the pub car park, and threatened him.
Neil McCaulay, mitigating, said French 'did not make steps towards [the man] and did not intend to harm him physically.
French, a reformed heroin addict, of Audley Way, Horseheath, admitting possession of an offensive weapon and affray. He was jailed for six months for both charges, to run concurrently.
Ex-prisoner threatened pub staff
A man called police from a phone box and said he would take revenge on pub staff by torching the building.
Ian Stanley Moore told the operator that he had just been released from prison for arson and he could not return home because his family would not have him.
Lincoln magistrates heard last week that Moore, 36, asked for help because he was about to set fire to the Still pub in Lincoln city centre on 16 April.
Moore, of Torrington Road, Emine, Lincoln, admitted threatening to damage or destroy property and was given a three-year conditional discharge.
Clive Rossin, mitigating, said Moore was worried about what he might do so he decided to call the police himself.
Glassing victim needed 200 stitches
A woman who left another pub-goer with permanent scars after glassing her at a Sunderland pub has been spared jail.
Bridie Snowdon, 19, was ordered to complete 200 hours community service and to pay victim Terri Gallagher £900 compensation at Newcastle Crown Court last Friday.
The court heard that a drink was thrown across the floor at Idols Bar on 15 August last year. Gallagher threw her drink back in retaliation and was then glassed by Snowdon.
The victim was rushed to hospital and needed 200 stitches.
Snowdon admitted a charge of wounding but pleaded not guilty to wounding with intent. She claimed she had lashed out 'instinctively because she feared she was being attacked.
Recorder Buckingham told Snowdon: 'I accept you reacted in an impetuous and spontaneous way.
Barman tied up during robbery at pub
A Suffolk barman was tied up behind the bar as two men made off with a quantity of cash.
The robbery occurred at the Old Millars in Felixstowe on Monday 4 July. The barman went to investigate the sound of a door opening at around 12.45am when a man rushed at him.
He was forced behind the bar and tied up. The two men stole a quantity of cash before fleeing.
The first man is described as black and wearing a baseball cap. The second man is believed to have a lighter skin.
Anyone with information should contact Felixstowe CID on 01473 613500.
