Boozy revellers up in court

FOUR people have appeared in court for their part in a late night fracas outside an Ipswich pub which involved confrontations between dozens of booze-fuelled revellers and police.

FOUR people have appeared in court for their part in a late night fracas outside an Ipswich pub which involved confrontations between dozens of booze-fuelled revellers and police.

The four - one of whom can not be identified because he is 17 - all pleaded guilty to various public order offences in relation to the incident which took place outside The Silver Star, in Wherstead Road, on December 1.

Ipswich market greengrocer Ian Buxton, 20, of Old Foundry Road, and part-time labourer James Wood, 19, of Fletcher Road, both pleaded guilty to using threatening or abusive words or behaviour towards police officers.

The 17-year-old pleaded guilty to the same charge as well as having in his possession a bladed article in a public place.

Warren Rose, 19, of Shetland Close, pleaded guilty to a section five public order offence and was sentenced to a 12-week curfew and community order.

During Buxton and Wood's appearance at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court it emerged that up to 25 officers had to be called to deal with the disturbance which threatened to spiral out of control.

Andrea Reynolds, prosecuting, said around 150 people had been at the pub for a special music night.

At around 11.30pm, a police officer went into the pub after hearing a female scream. He attempted to speak to Rose who made off into the pub.

Mrs Reynolds said: “He went into the pub and found the atmosphere to be very aggressive.

“Realising the situation was becoming hostile, he called for reinforcements. Joined by other officers, he re-entered the pub at which point glasses were thrown, the officers were kicked and people were abusive.”

She said that in his statement, one officer described the incident as the worst public disorder he had seen in five years of duty.

Buxton was seen to make numerous attempts to obstruct police and raised his hands towards officers.

Wood repeatedly swore at police after “squaring up” to officers with his fists clenched.

Representing himself, Buxton told the court: “I don't really remember much of the night. There were 150 people in that pub but because I am known to the police I got arrested.”

Wood added: “I am sorry for my behaviour. I had one beer and it went to my head.”

Magistrates ordered pre-sentence reports for Wood and Buxton, who will receive their punishment on February 20.