Man in mass brawl escapes jail (From Warrington Guardian)

Man in mass brawl escapes jail

A YOUNG man who took part in mass brawl between two warring families has escaped jail because of his alcoholism.

'Troubled' James Hobson, 22, had been found guilty of affray but the judge sentencing him heard his addiction was so bad he slept with booze beside his bed, and ordered him to get cleaned up instead.

"Affray is such a serious offence that I would be well within my rights to send you to prison," Recorder Mr Keith Bush told Hobson at Warrington Crown Court last week.

"In your case however, I have been convinced you are more in need of help than punishment - you are getting involved in anti-social behaviour because you can't control your alcohol consumption.

"It's in your interests and everyone else's that you get help for your problem."

Prosecuting, Laura Edmunds said Hobson had been involved in a mass brawl in a Runcorn car park during which a woman was kicked in the head and another punched.

Hobson, of Canal Reach, Windmill Hill, was arrested and charged with affray for his 'active' part in the fight.

Defending, Lee Bonner said his client was 'a shy young man, unable to stand up for himself and easily led.'

He added: "Mr Hobson is a young man with many, many problems to overcome. He is constantly under the influence of alcohol and is both mentally and physically dependent on it.

"He accepts that his actions have put him in this difficult situation and that he needs to make some very serious changes if he is have a normal life."

Sentencing him to a 12-month community rehabilitation order, Mr Bush told Hobson: "I am not convinced that your participation in the affray was a leading or serious one.

"But it may be that you are back before the courts again, in which case I will have no option but to send you to prison."