A paramedic was among more than a dozen football supporters captured on CCTV during a mass brawl at a Burton pub, a court has heard.

Pool cues, bar stools and pool balls were used as weapons when violence erupted at The Locomotive a year ago, the court was told.

A jury at Stafford Crown Court heard on Wednesday, July 19, that people suffered injuries, tables were turned over and other damage was caused at the pub in Station Street in July last year.

On trial are Michael Whittingham, 49, and Denis Eenkhoorn, 42, who both deny a charge of using or threatening unlawful violence.

The court heard the large-scale disturbance happened around 5pm on July 16 last year and coincided with a pre-season friendly match between Championship side Burton Albion and Premier League side Stoke City which was played earlier the same afternoon.

Jonathan Dickinson, prosecuting, said that, unlike most incidents involving football supporters, this one did not involve rival fans.

He said it was a group of Stoke City fans and most of the violence was captured on several CCTV cameras and some footage was played to the jury.

"The footage clearly shows what happened and who was involved and can be seen from different angles. There was damage caused, people injured and bar stools, pool cues and pool balls used as weapons," said Mr Dickinson.

Stafford Crown Court file pictures
Stafford Crown Court


He alleged that Whittingham can be seen picking up a bar stool and throwing it and is also seen with another stool raised above his head which is thrown at another man who is being attacked by three other people.

Mr Dickinson claimed that Denis Eenkhoorn was clearly involved and can be seen following his brother, John, who throws a stool.

"The defendant is then seen taking an active part in pushing over a table towards another man who is being assaulted by John Eenkhoorn and a man named Philip Diver and a third unidentified man," he said.

The jury was told that arrests were made on later dates after police identified people from the CCTV footage and highlighted the actions of the two defendants were shown to the jury.

Bar manager Spartaks Giulicis told the court he heard a barmaid Charlotte Haynes screaming and came into the bar and saw a man unconscious by the toilet door.

He said there was a man in a white shirt standing by the door and as others came out of the toilet he grabbed one and punched him.

"Suddenly there were people coming from other areas of the bar and there was a row. It all just erupted," he said.

Miss Haynes said she had been behind the bar and saw a man fall through the toilet door and then the violence started.

"I was scared. It all happened very fast. It was a blur," she told the court.

He said that when Eenkhoorn was questioned by police he provided no comment answers.

Mr Dickinson said Whittingham, who works for the West Midlands Ambulance Service, was identified after his photograph was seen in a local newspaper and he handed himself in to police.

He said the defendant said he was a Stoke City season ticket holder, but had not been to the match played earlier in the day and was at the pub for a pre-season drink.

Mr Dickinson said that when shown the CCTV footage he told police that he had been acting in the defence of a friend he named as Joseph Fagan.

At court Noel Edwards, 43, was also due to face trial, but pleaded guilty to the violent disorder charge.

The jury was told that Edwards, along with nine other men, who are all from the Stoke-on-Trent or Stone areas of North Staffordshire, had pleaded guilty at earlier hearings and are awaiting sentence.

The trial continues.