Car was used as a weapon amid street fighting

A MAN from Gateshead who deliberately drove at a man who was attacking his father amid a violent street brawl has avoided immediate jail time.

Alex Bamling drove his Mazda at a man on Gateshead’s riverside South Shore Road, near the Baltic centre, at around 9pm on Sunday, April 18.

The 23-year-old, along with his father and brother, came across a group of males in the Millennium Bridge car park. A fight broke out between the two groups, with some of the males wielding glass bottles.

Prosecutor Nicoleta Alistari said Bamling drove towards the group and hit one of the males.

She told Newcastle Crown Court on Monday: “The defendant’s brother was on the floor and his father was being hit in the face. The defendant made off to the car park, got into his car, and drove towards the fight, straight towards the group of males.

“He hit one of the males and caused him to fall on the bonnet. He drove a second time towards the group of males, who avoided it [the car] by getting behind some bollards and down a stairwell.”

The court heard how the man suffered a graze on his hand and blood was “coming from his mouth”. He was taken to hospital but Miss Alistari said the man refused to cooperate with police, so the full extent of his injuries was not clear.

Bamling, of Bramling Court, Gateshead, who has one previous conviction for three offences, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

Andrew Rutter, for Bamling, said this was an “exceptional case” in which Bamling was driven “purely and simply” by the need to protect his father, who has had a number of operations on his brain. Mr Rutter said his father was struck by a bottle and if that blow had been six inches higher he could have died.

Mr Rutter said: “It was planned as a day out for a father and his two sons. They were to explore Newcastle on the scooters you can hire.

“They were being peacemakers and they were subjected to an attack and subjected to violence by a group who were armed with bottles.

“The defendant was set upon and was hit with a bicycle seat which caused him injuries and stunned him. His father was hit with a bottle and...he took an impulsive decision to get into his car.”

Bamling was sentenced to eight months in prison suspended by 18 months and was disqualified from driving for two years. He must complete 35 days of rehabilitation activity and 150 hours of unpaid work.