CCTV FOOTAGE released by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has shown just how a street brawl unfolded in Wrexham.
Four men were recently sentenced for their roles in the fight, which took place on Abbot Street on December 30, 2022.
Joseph Hastings, of Deanfield Road in Shotton, Mason Fountain, of Kent Avenue in Shotton, Lennon Stagg, of Saxon Street in Wrexham, and Danny Bennett of Kings Road in Connah's Quay, appeared before Mold Crown Court on Monday, August 12.
All four defendants had previously pleaded guilty to one count each of affray during a hearing held on April 19 of this year.
What started off as a verbal confrontation between 28-year-old Bennett and Luke Bednarek quickly turned into 'sustained violence', the court heard.
CCTV footage played in court showed how the fight - which lasted around two minutes - unfolded.
TOP STORIES TODAY
- Prolific burglar who spent three years on the run is jailed
- Dangerous driver who mounted kerbs in Flint and later abused hospital staff jailed
- Why police are urging Flintshire shopkeepers to stop youths buying eggs
Fountain, 34, becomes involved by punching Mr Bednarek before Bennett also hits him.
Mr Bednarek can be seen defending himself during the Melee before Stagg, 24, and Bennett also launch an attack.
Hastings, 26, can be seen running up behind Mr Bednarek and putting him into a 'chokehold'.
Bennett and Hastings can then be seen kicking the victim while he is lying on the floor.
Mr Bednarek can then be seen to stand up and stumble away from the view of the CCTV camera, with damage to his face visible.
Sentencing the four men, Judge Niclas Parry said: "You subjected one man to sustained, targeted, serious - and above all - cowardly violence.”
The judge added: "This was classic street violence carried out by drunken thugs."
Stagg was sentenced to 14 months in prison, Bennett received 10 months and Fountain and Hastings were sentenced to 12 months each.
All sentences were suspended for a period of 18 months.
** The video above - belonging to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) - has been blurred in order to keep the identities of other people at the scene of the fight anonymous.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here