In what must surely one of the most bizarre CCTV brawls ever put before a court, a family of Manchester United fans are seen brawling with a group of men dressed as ‘Where’s Wally’ at Manchester’s Piccadilly Station.
The footage, which has been published by the Manchester Evening News, was shown before a Manchester court and called ‘ridiculous’, with embers from both party handed down sentences by the court.
The family and the group of ‘Wallies’, who were on a stag do, clashed in March of last year following verbal exchanges while travelling in opposite directions on moving walkways at the station. John Eyre, 46, who was with his two sons and a friend, leaned across the handrail in an attempt to push one of the ‘Wallies’, before getting off the walkway and charging into one of the opposite group. Mr Eyre then fell on hi face, in what the court called, a ‘ridiculous’ fashion.
Following this Eyre’s sons got involved, with Jack Eyre attacking the rivals with a crutch. This led to a mass brawl erupting on both escalators, Phil Dobson, prosecuting, told the court.
The Eyre family had been watching Manchester United play Norwich on the day, visiting several pubs, while the stag do had come from Bolton and been drinking since 10am. John Eyre’s defence said the accused had drunk a ‘gallon of ale’ on the day.
John Eyre was given a six-month sentence, suspended for two years, ordered to pay costs to the prosecution of £250 and must complete 120 hours of unpaid work.
Rhy Eyre, 17, John’s son, was given a youth rehabilitation order, with 75 hours unpaid work. His brother Jack, 22, was given a six month sentence, suspended for two years, with £250 costs. Ross Hunter, 17, a friend of the Eyres, received the same sentence as Rhy Eyre, plus £250 costs.
Of the ‘Wallies’, only Stephen Hargreaves was sentenced. The 54 year old was found guilty of affray and given a nine month sentence, suspended for two years, plus costs of £250.
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