Walsall mother of five locked up after Yates's pub brawl
A mother of five has been jailed after starting a pub brawl that ended with a man being knocked out.
Marie Wood suddenly started throwing punches at fellow customer Andrew O'Donnell in Yates's on Leicester Street, Walsall for reasons that were not immediately apparent, a judge heard.
Mr Howard Searle, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court: "He was on the receiving end of aggressive behaviour from her. He may have found her attractive but, for whatever reason, she started punching him."
There was pushing and shoving as others got involved in the disturbance which culminated in 36-year-old woman hurling a glass into the crowd. It did not break but caused a head injury to another of the customers, continued the prosecutor.
Wood, who had been drinking heavily after parting from a partner, was ejected by security staff but the trouble continued outside on August 8 last year.
She tried to get back into the premises on several occasions but was pulled back by 20-year-old Mitchell Leonard, whom she knew.
Then she got in a fight with another woman who had just left the bar. Both were thrown to the ground in the struggle during which she kicked her rival in the ribs. The pair had to be literally pulled apart as they clung to each other on the ground.
Mr O'Donnell also became involved in the melee before being felled with a punch from another of Wood's party, 30-year-old father of two Ben Edwards.
Mr Searle explained: "Edwards took up a boxing stance as Mr O'Donnell walked towards him and then punched Mr O'Donnell, knocking him down before kicking him."
The victim was then punched while lying unconscious on the ground by Leonard, concluded the prosecutor. Mr O'Donnell was badly bruised and needed eight stitches in his lip.
Wood from Pelsall Lane, Walsall, who had a previous conviction for excess alcohol, recalled little of what happened because she was drunk.
Mr David Swinnerton, defending, said: "She had been on a bender following the break up of a relationship and is disgusted at her shameful behaviour."
Roofer Edwards of Roebuck Road, Leamore, who was not involved in the violence until punching and kicking Mr O'Donnell, had previous convictions for affray, assault and violent disorder while Leonard from Stephenson Avenue, Beechdale, was of previous good character.
Recorder Jason MacAdam said: "This was a disgraceful, but sadly all too common, incident."
He told the defendants who all admitted affray: "Wood started it and kept it going with violence both inside and outside the pub.
"Edwards had the good sense to walk away before the drink or instinct took over and he reverted to type while Leonard cowardly punched a man who was lying on the ground."
Edwards, who also pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm, was jailed for one year eight months while Wood, who pleaded guilty to two affrays - representing her behaviour both inside and outside Yates's - was locked up for eight months. Leonard received four months detention suspended for 18 months with 180 hours unpaid work.
