A father attempted to steal a bottle of wine despite having part of his ear bitten off during a massive brawl outside a corner shop.
Brawl Details
Connor Kelly and Joseph McCarthy-Harrington, both wearing balaclavas, were chased down the street by brothers Kieran and Corey Scholes, who brandished weapons. The fight spilled into the road, where the Scholes brothers, one clad only in a dressing gown and pyjamas, bit Kelly's ear and stomped on his head.
Abbey Rowlands then drove her car into the melee, colliding with two men, but ended up with another wine bottle smashed through her windscreen.
Court Proceedings
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Friday (August 7) that CCTV footage showed Kelly and McCarthy-Harrington sprinting towards Tower Stores on Seabank Road in New Brighton, Wirral, on December 19 last year, masked and armed with batons. After being chased, they turned to confront the brothers, and a fight broke out among all four.
Prosecutor Gerry Baxter detailed how Kieran grabbed Kelly before Corey assisted in forcing him to the ground. He said: "Corey Scholes repeatedly punches Kelly to the head and body. Kieran Scholes then bites Kelly's ear and severs part of his ear. Corey Scholes can then be seen to stamp on the same side of Kelly's face."
Further Violence
After bystanders intervened, Corey Scholes continued his assault on McCarthy-Harrington. Rowlands drove her car into the paved area, knocking into a sixth defendant, Leon Lowe. As Kelly and McCarthy-Harrington retreated into the shop, Rowlands, Lowe, and Corey Scholes argued near the entrance.
McCarthy-Harrington later exited the store and threw a bottle of wine towards the Skoda, shattering the windscreen. Lowe, Corey Scholes, and Rowlands then struck him before she drove off with Lowe and another unidentified man in the car.
Mr Baxter informed the court that Kelly suffered a "partial amputation of his ear" and added: "He enters Tower Store and attempts to steal a bottle of wine, but is stopped."
Sentences
Kelly, 26, from Seacombe, pleaded guilty to affray and possession of an offensive weapon. His counsel Peter White noted his client's disrupted childhood and desire to gain employment on the railways. Kelly was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, appearing remotely from HMP Liverpool.
Corey Scholes, 19, from New Brighton, admitted to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray. He received an eight-month suspended sentence for 12 months, with a rehabilitation activity requirement and a £500 fine. His lawyer Lucy Moran said he is remorseful and has ADHD and additional learning needs.
Rowlands admitted to affray and careless driving. She received a nine-month suspended sentence, a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement, a £300 fine, and five penalty points on her licence.
McCarthy-Harrington confessed to affray and possession of an offensive weapon. He was handed a seven-month suspended sentence with unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement.
Lowe admitted to affray and was sentenced to a year in prison, appearing via video link from Walton prison. He has previous convictions for assault, drug supply, and dangerous driving.
Kieran Scholes, 21, was found guilty of wounding with intent and affray following a trial. He will be sentenced at a later date.
During sentencing, Recorder Anna Price stated: "It is clear that there is a background to this matter. Clearly, something has happened between the two groups of people involved. Whatever happened before the incident we can see on CCTV, you are all fully aware that the way in which you behaved was entirely unacceptable."
