Wedding day turned into ‘orgy of violence’
A WEDDING descended into an “orgy of violence” as tension between the bride’s and groom’s families spilled over, a court heard.
Christopher Stroud, the partner of one of the bridesmaids, assaulted a guest and then pushed a member of security staff, who fell to the ground and dislocated his knee.
The 29-year-old, from Swansea, reacted after his own partner was assaulted when violence erupted on the dance floor at the wedding.
Prosecutor Nigel Stelling told Warwick Crown Court that on May 18 last year Stroud and his partner were among the guests at a wedding taking place at the Warwick House wedding venue in Southam, Warwickshire.
“It’s not plain what had caused the friction between elements of the bride’s family and the groom’s family but the tension built and resulted in an altercation,” he said.
Mr Stelling said the trouble moved to the centre of the dance floor, where part of it was captured by a CCTV camera.
From the recording it was “clear there were a number of people acting unlawfully” but Stroud was the only person who was charged, although two women were given police cautions, the court heard.
Judge Anthony Potter said: “It is clear that neither Mr Stroud nor his partner, who was a bridesmaid, were involved in the tension that built up.”
But matters were inflamed when the two women who have been given cautions started to assault Stroud’s partner, and as that situation escalated, Stroud assaulted another guest, called Blake Barley.
Stroud then reacted aggressively towards security staff, and after being taken outside he pushed one of them, Niks Gurekis, who fell to the ground.
As a result Mr Gurekis struck his head, causing a cut to the back of his head, and also suffered a dislocated knee.
Mr Stelling said the police report suggested Mr Gurekis had gas and air administered and was treated by medical staff when they arrived.
“But that was not the case – he relocated it himself when he came round, although there was injury to the ligaments,” he said.
Judge Potter added: “Knowing what I know about the assault on Mr Stroud’s partner I can understand why that would impact on him but it does not justify the way he behaved towards Mr Gurekis.”
Sentencing Stroud, the judge told him: “I am quite confident that when Rachel Shaw was organising her wedding she did not seek the whole event descending into an orgy of violence.”
Stroud, of Mynydd Newydd Road, Penlan, Swansea, admitted assault and inflicting grievous bodily harm. He was given a 12-month community sentence and was ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work and to pay £500 compensation to his victim.