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Thursday, 4th December 2008

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'Wild West' brawl lands family in court



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Published Date:
10 October 2008
A trail of blood on a pavement led police officers into a violent 'Wild West' showdown with a family who had been out drinking at a pub.
The officers had to force their way into the house and amid chaotic scenes a mass brawl broke out.
It was only calmed down by the use of CS gas.
In court, builder David James Pritchard, 32, his sister Katie Pritchard, 19, their father David Reginald Pritchard, 53, as well as their cousin Janine Clarke, 28, all admitted committing offences against the officers.
The court heard police were led to the home in Staunton Road, Havant, following a trail of blood left by a vandal who had cut themself smashing a window at the nearby Prince of Wales pub.
The offender, who is known to the Pritchards, went into the house but left shortly after.
The Pritchards had been drinking at the pub on the evening of December 8 last year and the younger David had drunk 10 bottles of Magners cider.
Two officers knocked at the door wanting to search inside to find the bleeding man but Katie Pritchard refused to let them in.
Clarke then helped hold the door shut as the officers tried to push past.
PC Daniel Collins eventually pushed his way inside only to be confronted by an aggressive Pritchard junior. His father, who had been asleep upstairs, also appeared and obstructed the officers.
At Portsmouth Magistrates' Court Alex Dabson, prosecuting, said: 'The officer described him (Pritchard junior) as clearly anti-police, shouting and swearing and told him to get out. He said they needed a warrant.'
David Pritchard junior then grabbed PC Collins by the neck from behind and pulled him backwards before pinning him to the floor, the court heard.
The court heard officers were able to restrain the builder by spraying him with CS gas and punching him in the face and chest. As Pritchard got up he elbowed PC David Lee in the chest.
More and more police officers piled into the street to try to calm the situation.
Ron Hawes, defending David junior, said: 'The idea that every man's home is his castle is a totally outdated concept.
'But this is where the problem starts. What started as two police officers turned into 10 and an innumerable number of vans in the street.
'It looks like a bit of a Wild West show in the street.'

The full article contains 412 words and appears in The News newspaper.
Page 1 of 2

  • Last Updated: 10 October 2008 11:06 AM
  • Source: The News
  • Location: Portsmouth
 
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Michael S.,

16/10/2008 21:49:41
Sorry but the real wild west didn't use cs gas they used GUNS,stop fantasising
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