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A man had part of his ear bitten off during a mass brawl outside a New Brighton shop before a mum drove her car into the violence.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Friday, August 7, how Connor Kelly, 26, and Joseph McCarthy-Harrington were chased towards Tower Stores on Seabank Road by brothers Kieran and Corey Scholes on December 19 last year, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.
The pair were wearing balaclavas and carrying batons when they were seen on CCTV running towards the shop. The confrontation then turned violent and spilled into the road.
Prosecutor Gerry Baxter told the court that Corey Scholes repeatedly punched Kelly before Kieran Scholes bit his ear, severing part of it. Corey then stamped on the same side of Kelly's face.
Mr Baxter said: "Kieran Scholes then bites Kelly's ear and severs part of his ear. Corey Scholes can then be seen to stamp on the same side of Kelly's face."
As members of the public intervened, Corey continued attacking McCarthy-Harrington.
Abbey Rowlands then drove her car onto the paved area where the fight was taking place, colliding with Leon Lowe.
Kelly and McCarthy-Harrington retreated into Tower Stores, but the violence continued outside.
McCarthy-Harrington was seen emerging from the shop and throwing a bottle of wine at Rowlands' Skoda, smashing its windscreen.
Lowe, Corey Scholes and Rowlands then appeared to aim blows at him before Rowlands got back into the driver's seat.
The court heard the car then lurched forward into McCarthy-Harrington before Rowlands drove away.
Mr Baxter said Kelly had suffered a "partial amputation of his ear" during the attack. Despite his injury, Kelly then entered the shop and attempted to steal a bottle of wine before being stopped.
Rowlands maintained that her car had effectively stalled. Her barrister John Rowan said she had panicked after the bottle smashed her windscreen and feared further damage.
He said: "It lurched forward. It pushes him back and it, immediately, is stopped."
Rowlands, 23, pleaded guilty to affray and careless driving and was given a nine-month suspended sentence, a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a £300 fine, with five penalty points added to her licence.
Corey Scholes, 19, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray. He was handed an eight-month sentence, suspended for 12 months with a rehabilitation activity required for up to 30 days, and fined £500.
McCarthy-Harrington, 24, admitted affray and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place. He received seven months suspended for a year, with 50 hours of unpaid work, and a rehabilitation activity required up to 20 days.
Kelly, 26, pleaded guilty to affray and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and was sentenced to a year in prison.
Lowe, 24, admitted affray and was also jailed for a year.
Kieran Scholes, 21, was found guilty of wounding with intent and affray following a trial and will be sentenced at a later date.
Sentencing, Recorder Anna Price said: "Whatever happened before the incident we can see on CCTV, you are all fully aware that the way in which you behaved was entirely unacceptable."
