United winger avoids prison after bar brawl

NEWCASTLE United winger Rolando Aarons has avoided prison after being involved in a bar brawl while celebrating his child’s first birthday.

Bouncers at Livello, on Newcastle’s quayside, described the fight as among the worst they had seen, with one saying it was “like the Wild West”.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Aarons, 22, had been celebrating in the VIP area with friends and family on October 9 2016 when he noticed a man filming his aunt dancing.

He asked him to stop, and at first, things appeared to have ended amicably.

But as Aarons moved back to his friends, he saw the man’s friends pointing and making comments. Returning to ask what they were talking about, he was surrounded by the group, at which point he headbutted the complainant, Wesley Erskine.

Aarons was pulled away, but then threw a punch at another man. He was pulled back again, and wasn’t involved further in the 90-second brawl.

Aarons, of Montagu Avenue, Gosforth, and four others all pleaded guilty to a charge of affray in a hearing last month.

Mitigating for Aarons, Toby Hedworth QC said the footballer was used to public attention and had never had any issues of this sort before. He said the fact he had only ever received one yellow card in his professional career also indicated he was not the sort of person who sought out violence, but had responded inappropriately when Mr Erskine’s friends began crowding him and “laying hands on him”.

He claimed, and Judge Edward Bindloss accepted, it was a member of the other party who “escalated” the violence by being the first to throw anything.

Mr Hedworth added Aarons was ashamed and had demonstrated a “responsible attitude” by returning to pay £7,000 for the damage, despite the fact he was to face a trial.

Aarons’ mother, Joan Jacob, 46, of the same address, had tried to act as a “peacemaker”, Penny Bottomley, prosecuting, told the court.

But she then picked up a glass and threw it towards a man in the other group. Gavin Doig told the court Jacob was the carer for her nineyear-old son, and suffered from health issues.

Meanwhile, the court heard, Aarons’ cousin, Garfield White, who appeared in court via videolink from HMP Durham, climbed over chairs from the back of VIP area to get involved and hit a man with a champagne bottle.

Mitigating on behalf of White, Julie Clementson said he was showing “responsibility and a desire to learn and change” while jailed for another offence.

Kallum Phillips, 23, of Kensington Park, Bristol, who had been at the back of the VIP area, took off his belt and hit a man with it, the court heard, before being restrained by staff.

Phillips was sentenced to 10 months suspended for 12 months with 100 hours unpaid work.

Aarons’ friend, Jamar Collins had tried to move towards the crowd when the commotion started, but, when he was unable to reach the group, he picked up a glass and threw it. Mitigating, Jane Foley said he had “thought his close friend was in danger”.

Judge Bindloss said the violence, weapons and missiles, and large group involved meant custodial sentences were appropriate, but for everyone apart from White, their good character meant these sentences could be suspended.

Aarons was handed a 10-month prison term, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work. Jamar Collins, 22, of Walker Close, Bristol, received the same sentence with a requirement to do rehabilitation activity.

Joan Jacob was given a 28-week sentence, suspended for 12 months, and given a twomonth curfew.

A fourth man, Garfield White, 23, of Wordsworth Road, Bristol, was already serving a 17-year sentence for violence which occurred after this incident. He was ordered to serve 15 months concurrently with his existing sentence.