Oxford sports bar brawl with bottle and pool balls thrown

Kyle Bartlett, of Jersey Road, Oxford, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on June 5.

The man pleaded guilty to one count of assault, occasioning actual bodily harm, and one count of affray.

The court heard the incident occurred around the pool tables at the bar in the Ozone Leisure Centre, next to the Kassam Stadium, on September 8, 2023.

The victim of the assault was a man called Laurence Strahan.

Naomi Perry, prosecuting, showed the court CCTV footage of the incident.

The footage showed two groups playing pool.

Bartlett, who was heavily intoxicated at the time, was interfering with another group by moving balls around.

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Oxford Crown Court (Image: Contributed)

A fight soon starts with bottles being thrown as well as pool balls.

Mrs Perry told the court that Bartlett had been asked to leave the venue several times. Before leaving, he punched Mr Strahan, who had to go to the John Radcliffe Hospital for stitches on his head.

The barrister added: “It was a really nasty injury to the head, which needed stitches. There was a scar on his forehead.

“There was use of serious violence and there was a serious injury. He was drinking at the time of the incident.”

Peter Du Feu, mitigating, said: “He was 22 at the time. This was all about him being heavily intoxicated that night. He takes responsibility for what happened that night.

“He interfered with the table next to him. He kept moving balls around and was teasing them. He threw pool balls, there was all sorts going on.

“He punched the victim before leaving. This was entirely out of character. He has knocked drink on the head, realising the effect it had on him.

“He isn’t work shy. He’s thoroughly ashamed about what happened. He hasn’t sought to blame anyone else. It was down to him.

“This can be dealt with in a constructive way. He’d be very glad to put this behind him.”

Judge Emma Nott KC said: “This was about three years ago now. A lot of people were in the bar playing pool, a confrontation escalated.

“You’d been drinking heavily and verbally abused the other group. You threw a glass bottle which caused a wider disturbance.

“Others became involved, but you were the primary aggressor.”

The judge added: “You accept you were heavily intoxicated and you have reduced your alcohol consumption considerably.

“You show genuine remorse for what you did.”

Bartlett was handed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

He was ordered to complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 90 days of alcohol abstinence.

He must also pay compensation of £970 within six months.