A MAN on trial accused of starting a fracas with a pair of brothers outside a pub claims he was hit first.
The trial at Chelmsford Crown Court continued in Joshua Sergeant’s absence yesterday and the jury heard a transcript of his police interview.
Sergeant, 22, alleges he was led outside of the King’s Head pub in Brightlingsea by the men, one of whom said words to the effect of “let bygones be bygones”.
But he claims he was then punched in the face by Lee Charlton, before being “violently attacked”.
A scuffle followed which led to Sergeant throwing a pint glass and later hitting a vehicle with a brick, the court heard.
But Sergeant said it was only meant to intimidate the pair.
Giving evidence, Det Con Robin Coltman, of Clacton CID, read his part of the interview, while Alun Evans, prosecuting, presented Sergeant’s words.
Det Con Coltman said: “Lee says the glass made contact with his knee that caused him to fall on the ground and also you pulled his jumper over his head and began kicking him.”
Sergeant replied: “Lee thinks I sold his motorbikes, he’s going to do anything in his power to get me into trouble.”
Earlier in the trial the court was told of a potential “grudge” against Sergeant over motorbikes some five years ago.
About eight months prior to the alleged affray in May 2017, the court heard of another fight between Mr Charlton and Sergeant, also at a pub.
Sergeant, of Waterside Marina, Brightlingsea, denies he was behaving like a “mad man out of control...threatening people with a brick”.
However, pubgoer Jessica McCormack, who was called to give evidence, says Sergeant came at the crowd aggressively.
She said: “His eyes were quite noticeable, they were wide and glassy.
She added: “He ran off up Queen Street chasing after Lee’s brother and then came back at minute later with a brick and just approached the crowd.”
Miss McCormack agreed the brick never made contact with anyone and had been dropped on the floor when Sergeant was driven away from the scene, but that he ran after Carl a second time.
Sergeant denies affray.
The trial continues.
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