WONDERBRAWL!
Oasis singer’s boy and Ringo’s grandson deny fight with Tesco staff
LIAM Gallagher’s son and Ringo Starr’s grandson were involved in a latenight brawl with staff at a Tesco Express, a court heard yesterday.
Gene Gallagher, 18, and Sonny Starkey, 19, were caught on CCTV fighting ‘with their arms windmilling down the aisle’, it was alleged.
The pair appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court alongside their friend, Noah Ponte, 19, who is accused of telling Indian staff members to ‘go back to where you came from’ when they refused to serve him alcohol after 11pm.
All three are charged with affray, using or threatening unlawful violence towards someone, and Ponte – who works as a male model – is also charged with racially aggravated common assault. The trio deny all the charges.
Gallagher, the son of the former Oasis frontman and All Saints star Nicole Appleton, was escorted to court by his uncle Liam Howlett, leader of electronic band The Prodigy.
Starkey, the grandson of the former Beatles drummer, entered the court via a side entrance and was joined inside by his father Jason Starkey.
The fight is alleged to have happened at a branch of Tesco Express in Hampstead, north west London, just before midnight on May 17 last year.
Adeal Mahmood, prosecuting, said: ‘At around midnight police received a call from Tesco Express about a group of males who were fighting with staff. On arrival there was a large group congregating outside, and inside the store security had detained Mr Starkey and Mr Gallagher. Police were directed to Noah Ponte, who was in a pub opposite the store. On seeing police, Mr Ponte started walking away towards Hampstead station.
‘All suspects were identified by staff as being part of the fight.
‘On speaking with staff, police confirmed a member of the group had tried to purchase a can of alcohol but it wouldn’t scan as Tesco does not serve alcohol after 11pm.
‘Ponte then attempted to leave
‘Windmilling down the aisle’
the store with the can. When staff intervened there was a fight that left one member of staff with cuts and bruises.’
A worker claimed Ponte had said to him ‘you bloody Indians, go back where you came from, you are not wanted here’, Mr Mahmood added.
‘And CCTV captured Starkey and Gallagher fighting with their arms windmilling down the aisle,’ he said.
All three wore suits to the hearing and spoke only to confirm their names, addresses, and nationality. Gallagher, who wore a grey suit, dark tie and white trainers, was expelled from the £6,500-a-term King Alfred School in Golders Green, north London, last year.
Gallagher was pictured with Starkey and Ponte at a function in London last June.
The trio elected for their case to be heard at crown court. They will appear at Wood Green Crown Court on March 9.