Brothers-in-law were ‘spoiling for a fight’ on night out
A FORMER rugby captain and his football coach brother-in-law were involved in a series of “nasty and unpleasant” brawls in a seaside town which left four bouncers and a landlord injured, a court has heard.
Jason Price and Andrew Mason launched the unprovoked attacks on a busy summer’s evening in Tenby.
Dean Pulling, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court the brothers-inlaw were part of a group in the Three Mariners pub in the town at around 10.30pm on August 5 when trouble flared.
Gurnos FC coach Mason took his T-shirt off in the bar, and a bouncer approached him to tell him to put it back on – which he did.
However, former Merthyr rugby captain Price attacked the bouncer, punching him in the face and causing an extensive nose-bleed.
Price and Mason then left the pub and went into the nearby Tenby House.
After a few minutes Price went outside and started being aggressive towards the Tenby House’s bouncers, swearing at them and challenging them to a fight.
He was joined by his brother-in-law, who began “goading him on” into a fight.
Mr Pulling said there was then an “eruption of violence” with fists flying and a brawl breaking out involving the brothers-in-law and three members of door staff. The landlord of the nearby Lifeboat pub went to the aid of the bouncers, and was punched to the ground by Mason.
The court heard a number of other people who were in the area at the time joined the melee and attacked the pub staff – these assailants, some of whom kicked their victims, have never been identified.
Price and Mason walked away and were arrested a short time later.
The court heard the victims suffered a range of cuts and bruises to their faces and bodies, black eyes, and cuts to their lips and mouths, and one needed 10 stitches to three separate wounds on his face.
Price, 49, of Tan Y Bryn, Aberdare, had previously pleaded guilty to affray, unlawful wounding and two counts of inflicting actual bodily harm, and Mason, 45, of Penyfan View, Merthyr Tydfil, to affray and unlawful wounding when they appeared in the dock for sentencing.
Jonathan Rees, for Price, said his client ran a family gardening business that employed some 43 people and was well respected in the Merthyr community. He said the incident was out of character for the defendant, who was genuinely remorseful.
Christopher Rees, for Mason, said his client had been drawn into the incident through loyalty to his brotherin-law, and he too was genuinely remorseful.
Recorder Christopher Felstead described the events of August 5 as “nasty and unpleasant”.
He said Price had been “spoiling for a fight”, and Mason could simply have walked away from the disturbance but chose to get involved.
Price was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work and made the subject of an 8pm to 6am curfew for the next six months.
Mason was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 15 months, and was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.
Each defendant must pay each victim £750 compensation, along with £750 prosecution costs.