THUGS IN DOCK: Fourteen Oxfordshire men and three from Gloucestershire sentenced

A gang of 14 men from Oxfordshire and three from Gloucestershire were sentenced yesterday for their roles in the fight in Cheltenham in 2009.

The battle at the Moon under the Water, in Bath Road, left the pub with a £5,000 repair bill, while a bystander suffered a broken jaw.

Judge Martin Picton sentenced all the men at Bristol Crown Court and said: “You should all be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves.

“Why this atrocious violence erupted is unclear. Several were fuelled by drink, some had taken cocaine as well.

“All who witnessed this event or heard about it will have had their confidence in a peaceable and law-abiding society reduced.”

Judge Martin Picton said that on Saturday, February 7, 2009 the gang had turned the Moon Under Water pub into a “battle ground”.

The Oxfordshire men had gone to Cheltenham after Oxford United’s match against Kettering had been called off because of bad weather.

But trouble was sparked when the gang came face-to-face with another group of men inside the pub.

Judge Picton said: “Some witnesses likened the scene inside that pub as being reminiscent of a saloon bar brawl which would feature in a Western movie.

“For five minutes there was a continual exchange of missiles, chairs, glasses and bottles.

“Those at the Oxford end attacked and retreated before continuing, in the presence of so many innocent customers. It was terrifying for those people.”

“You should all be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves.”

Paul Southey, aka Blair, 29, of Marina Way, Abingdon, who kicked a man to the ground and threw a chair, received the most severe sentence.

Blair, already behind bars, was sentenced to 32 months in prison, to run consecutively with his current sentence.

The three Gloucestershire men involved in the violence were all given prison sentences.

WHO WAS INVOLVED

* Paul Southey, aka Blair, 29, Marina Way, Abingdon: 32 months in prison.

* Andrew McMahon, 20, Fern Hill Road, Cowley, Oxford: 14 months in prison.

* Benjamin Sabbitini-Oliver, 28, Botley Road, Oxford: 12 months suspended sentence, 200 hours’ unpaid work, six-month curfew, £670 costs and £600 compensation.

* Jeremy Smith, 37, Galleyfield, Abingdon: 18 months in prison.

* Lee Arnold, 25, Shepherds Hill, Greater Leys, Oxford: Nine months suspended, supervision order for 12 months, 120 hours’ unpaid work, £670 costs and £600 compensation.

* Christopher Wayne, 35, Pimpernell Close, Blackbird Leys, Oxford. Sentence: 11 months suspended, 180 hours’ unpaid work, six-month curfew, £670 costs and £600 compensation.

* Tommy Bielec, 27, Leiden Road, Headington, Oxford. Sentence: 12 months suspended, 280 hours’ unpaid work, £2,500 costs and £600 compensation.

* Aiden McManus, 29, Boswell Road, Cowley, Oxford: 15 months suspended, six-month curfew, 200 hours’ unpaid work, £3,600 costs and £600 compensation.

* Sean Keaney, 19, Outram Road, Florence Park, Oxford: Six-months in prison, consecutive with sentence he is already serving.

* Sean Bone, 30, Owens Way, Cowley, Oxford: 12 months suspended, 180 hours’ unpaid work, six-month curfew, £1,500 costs and £600 compensation.

* Alan Stimpson, 38, Teal Close, Greater Leys, Oxford: 12 months suspended, 200 hours’ unpaid work, six-month curfew, £670 costs and £600 compensation.

* Tristan Hayle, 25, Cedar Road, Botley, Oxford: 11 months suspended, 150 hours’ unpaid work, six-month curfew, £3,600 costs and £600 compensation.

* Robert Hoskins, 40, Badminton Road, Matson, Gloucester: 14 months in prison.

* Daniel McCauley, 35, Orchard Way, Cheltenham: 13 months in prison.

* Richard Hamilton, 38, Gloucester Road, Cheltenham: 13 months in prison.

* Dale Bowman, 37, Compton Drive, Abingdon: 18 months in prison. Found guilty after a trial at Gloucester Crown Court.

* Christopher Williams, 35, Spruce Gardens, Greater Leys, Oxford: 20 months in prison, to serve half before being released on license. Found guilty after a trial at Gloucester Crown Court.