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Four sentenced over boxing brawl at Wolverhampton Civic Hall

Four men, who were involved in violence that flared during a charity boxing match at Wolverhampton's Civic Hall and left a 22-year-old with a serious head injury, have been spared jail.

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Tom Hayes suffered a fractured skull and brain haemorrhage that have caused long-term hearing difficulties and severe headaches, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

He was an innocent party caught up in the fighting that continued outside after several of those involved had been ejected by bouncers.

But his two brothers, 25-year-old Jake and Adam Hayes, aged 34, did take part in the violence that marred the event on October 18, 2014, explained Mr John Evans, prosecuting.

They and others were locked in a dispute with another group of men which included Michael Spruce and Benji Groom, both 29, that exploded into a widespread melee outside the Civic as bouncers struggled to restore order.

Some of the action was captured on CCTV.

Punches were thrown amid scuffles that culminated in the injury to Mr Hayes who lay unconscious on the ground.

"This appeared to bring people to their senses and signalled the end of the disturbance," said Mr Evans.

Mr Hayes had been pulled to the ground and possibly kicked in a clash that involved Groom the court was told.

Mr Oliver Blunt, QC, defending Groom, maintained: "In the melee Tom Hayes went to the ground. The defendant then made one foot movement alone, immediately desisted and moved away. It is not clear whether contact was made with the head.

"Whether the injury was caused by the head of Mr Hayes hitting the ground or the involvement of a third party we shall never know.

"But this defendant must have an element of culpability. He went beyond the bounds of self defence."

A jury had earlier cleared Groom of causing grievous bodily harm on the orders of the judge.

The trouble started with a bust-up in a corridor outside the gents at the Civic Hall during the event at which a team of West Midlands Police officers took on members of the public in a series of charity boxing bouts watched by over 200 people.

The violence spilled outside after several people involved in the original fracas were ejected and followed from the building by other members of the audience who had paid up to £80-a-head for tickets. A 'large fight' then broke out between people from the two rival groups.

Groom from Ashmore Road, Willenhall was convicted of affray after a trial. Jake Hayes of Acorn Mews, Willenhall, his brother Adam from Wood Hayes Croft, Westcroft and Spruce of Attlee Road, Bushbury all admitted affray.

Judge Kristina Montgomery QC told them: "You were all concerned in widespread disorder. Up until the incident in the corridor it had been a well-organised and peaceable event, raising money for charity. In some respect it does not matter what each of you did because it is the cumulative impact that is important.

"It was a shocking display of drunken behaviour. You paid no regard to the obvious upset and concern you were causing to all those decent people who were present.

"You each advanced the childish excuse of 'he started it.'

"You are grown men who, fuelled by drink, reacted in a completely disproportionate way to anything that had had happened to you or your friends. It was totally inexcusable."

But the judge said that character references from numerous people had helped to paint a different picture of the men which allowed her not to lock them up.

Groom received a nine-month prison sentence suspended for a year with 200 hours of unpaid work and £1800 costs. Spruce was given a six-month jail term suspended for 12 months with 150 hours unpaid work and £600 costs.

Adam and Jake Hayes each got three-month sentences suspended for a year with £1200 and £500 costs respectively. Each defendant also received a four-month night time curfew.

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