Man, 25, facing assault charges

A MAN has been charged in connection with an assault which left a man in hospital.

The victim was injured after allegedly being assaulted outside the B&M store in Ashington in the early hours of Saturday morning. It is then believed that he was assaulted again at an address on Woodhorn Drive nearby.

Three men and one woman were arrested in connection with the incident and questioned in custody.

Now, a 25-year-old man has been charged with causing GBH with intent, kidnap and possession of an offensive weapon. Edward John Coulson, of Northumberland Avenue, is set to appear at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Monday. Two men, aged 45 and 43 and a 44-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent to commit GBH have been released under investigation.

A police spokesman said it was understood that those involved were known to each other.

Dozens of spectators were filmed screaming and shouting as two men, wearing boxing gloves, brawl in broad daylight.

The fight was even streamed on Facebook Live, with footage showing a boxer knock his foe down to the ground.

Scores of youngsters, clutching their phones, then rush towards the winner to celebrate with some hugging him.

Northumbria Police received multiple calls about the fight, which has been slammed by locals who branded them “idiots” for ignoring social distancing rules.

Footage shows onlookers moving around outside the Crockets Hotel, with around a dozen vehicles parked up outside. Among them, scrap vans and even a lorry – which was acting as a makeshift stand for spectators to get a view of the action.

“We received reports that an organised fight had been arranged at a premises on Mitchell Street,

Newcastle, on Friday, May 15,” said a Northumbria Police spokesperson. “Officers attended and on arrival, a number of those present dispersed without issue and neighbourhood policing teams remained in the area to carry out patrols.”