Rock star relations face the music over alleged Tesco brawl
LIAM GALLAGHER’S son and Ringo Starr’s grandson are accused of having a late-night fight in a Tesco after their friend told an Indian staff member to “go back to where you came from”.
Gene Gallagher, 18, and Sonny Starkey, 19, were “windmilling” down the aisle at a shopkeeper who was trying to stop them leaving, Highbury Corner magistrates’ court heard yesterday.
Their friend Noah Ponte, an IMG model, allegedly racially abused the shopkeeper after he couldn’t buy a can
‘CCTV captures Mr Starkey and Mr Gallagher fighting, windmilling down the store aisle’
of beer at midnight, because it was after 11pm, the court heard.
All three are charged with affray – using or threatening unlawful violence towards another – and 19-year-old Ponte is also charged with racially aggravated common assault.
He is accused of telling a worker: “You bloody Indians. Go back to where you came from. You’re not wanted here.”
Adeal Mahmood, prosecuting, said: “On Friday 17
May at around midnight, police received a call from Tesco Express with a report that a group of males were fighting with staff at the location.
“On arrival, there was a large group congregating outside and inside the store.
“On speaking with the staff they confirmed that they had been inside the store and one of them tried to purchase a can of alcohol but it wouldn’t scan because Tesco do not sell alcohol after 11pm.
“When staff intervened, they started to fight with the staff causing cuts on the member of staff.
“Mr Shium Patel [the employee] did not have any lasting injuries.
“CCTV captures Mr Starkey and Mr Gallagher fighting, windmilling down the store aisle.”
Gallagher, Starkey, and Ponte all elected for their trial to take place at the Crown Court. They all indicated not guilty pleas.
Starkey was supported in court by his father Jason, a drummer and road manager, who is the second son of the Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and his first wife Maureen. Gallagher is the youngest son of Oasis frontman Liam and Nicole Appleton, the All Saints singer, neither of whom attended the hearing.
He arrived at court with Liam Howlett, co-founder of The Prodigy, the electronic band, who married Appleton’s sister Natalie in 2002.
Gallagher is previously known to the public for having a role alongside his father and his grandmother, Peggy, on a special 2017 Stand Up To Cancer edition of TV show Gogglebox.
In October, he joined the Oasis frontman on stage to play drums on Later … with Jools Holland. In September, Starkey and Gallagher were pictured together at an event during London Fashion Week.