Accused denies part in mass bar brawl

A mass brawl that saw bar stools thrown through the air, chair legs used as weapons and bottles and glasses hurled as missiles erupted in a Black Country club, a court heard.

Trouble flared between two rival groups of men at Busby's Night Spot in West Bromwich.

The fight, which was between two groups from West Bromwich and Birmingham, spilled out on to the street in broad daylight.

Several of the men involved were known to officers from West Midlands Police who specialise in policing football violence, Wolverhampton Crown Court, sitting at The Waterfront in Brierley Hill, heard yesterday.

Paul Ritchie, aged 23, of Bassett Road, Wednesbury, denies violent disorder.

However, Mr Matthew Barnes, prosecuting, said Ritchie was involved in the violence and was caught on CCTV hurling two pint glasses and then fleeing the scene. Mr Barnes said:

"This was a major fight. Many men were involved, glasses and bottles were thrown violently in the street."

Mr Barnes said Ritchie was identified on the CCTV footage by Pc Martin Portman, who has been the police's football officer for West Bromwich Albion since 2003.

Mr Barnes said: "Paul Ritchie leaves the side door with two glasses in his hand. He throws them at a group of people that are fighting and then moves towards the melee. He then turns on his heels and runs towards a neighbouring car park."

Ritchie claims it is a case of mistaken identity and he is not the man on the footage throwing the missiles.

The fight broke out at around 8pm on June 6 2009 at Busby's in St Michael's Street.

Jurors were yesterday shown the CCTV, which also included men kicking and punching each other and stamping on one anothers' heads. One man was knocked unconscious and another broke his jaw.

Ritchie was arrested on December 1 2009 after being identified on the video by Pc Portman, the court head.

The trial continues.