Five held after fight breaks out in village

A DRIVER narrowly avoided striking a police car before ploughing into some fencing, a court heard.

Stephen Hardman, 54, caught the attention of police as he drove along Brook Lane in Golcar on April 9.

It was 8pm but he didn’t have his lights turned on and he nearly hit the vehicle, Kirklees magistrates were told.

Prosecutor Andy Wills said that this was only avoided by the officer’s quick-thinking as he activated the blue lights on his car.

However having seen the Pc’s lights Hardman continued to drive off at speed and became involved in an accident a short time later, magistrates were told.

Mr Wills said Hardman hit a security fence , causing severe damage to his Mitsubishi.

Magistrates heard that Hardman, of Rob Royd Hall in Golcar, was arrested and taken to the police station.

Mr Wills said that breath tests showed that he had 64 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

But Hardman pleaded not guilty to an offence of driving while over the prescribed limit.

His solicitor said that he wishes to challenge aspects of the roadside breath test and the intoxilyzer procedure at the police station.

Magistrates told Hardman that his trial will be held on August 30 at Leeds Magistrates’ Court. fled the scene after a dispute and returned armed with a trade knife but police could not confirm or deny this.

Dozens of spots of blood were visible on the pavement yesterday morning and workers at the Riverhead Brewery Tap were left to clean up.

A statement from West Yorkshire Police reads: “Police were called to Peel Street, Marsden at 10.09pm on Saturday, April 28, following reports of a disturbance involving a number of persons.

“Following attendance of district units, a number of arrests were made for public order offences and enquiries with CCTV and witnesses are under way.”

Force Duty Inspector Paul Rushton further clarified five people had been arrested.

He added: “Whilst I’m not aware of the exact details of the nature, the seriousness or how these injuries were sustained to my best knowledge I don’t believe any persons were stabbed.”

Any witnesses are asked to contact the police on 101 quoting reference 13180202798.

Kirklees councillor Donna Bellamy, who represents Marsden, said: “It’s concerning that this has happened and it will be discussed at our next meeting of the Ale Trail in June at Riverhead Brewery.

“I have also had a lot of enquiries about having some form of village CCTV system installed throughout the village centre.

“I’m going to arrange to see Systems Vision who have done such a thing in Honley and Meltham and then I will set up a meeting with businesses in Marsden and will look at fundraising.”