Video: Shocking scenes as Grand Depart is marred by huge brawl in Leeds city centre

IT WAS the day that forever will shine in our memories as one of Yorkshire’s proudest days.
Cookridge Street brawlCookridge Street brawl
Cookridge Street brawl

However the first day of the Grand Depart in Leeds was marred for many after shocking scenes violence was caught on camera outside a city centre bar.

Four men have appeared in court over the ugly scenes in which groups of men and women were caught up in the incident on Cookridge Street.

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Leeds Crown Court heard violence erupted inside Baa Bar before spilling onto the street outside around 8pm on July 5 last year.

Cookridge Street brawlCookridge Street brawl
Cookridge Street brawl

One man - Mark McNamara - was caught on a LeedsWatch camera pulling down metal barriers erected to control crowds for the Grande Depart, which had taken place earlier in the day.

Shocked members of the public filmed the disturbance on mobile phones as fighting continued for several minutes before police arrived.

Acting Detective Inspector James Entwistle, of Leeds District CID, said: “As the CCTV footage clearly illustrates, these men were involved in some very ugly scenes of violence on what had otherwise been a day of celebration for the city. There can be no justification whatsoever for behaviour like this and we hope the fact they have now had to answer for their actions will provide some reassurance to the victim as well as to the wider community.”

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McNamara, Lumb, Lee and a fourth man, John Stones, were arrested shortly after the incident.

Cookridge Street brawlCookridge Street brawl
Cookridge Street brawl

McNamara pleaded guilty to violent disorder. He was given an 18 month prison sentence, suspended for two years, plus 150 hours unpaid work.

Lumb, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and inflicting grievous bodily harm. He was given a two-year sentence, suspended for two years. James Lee pleaded guilty to violent disorder and inflicting grievous bodily harm. He was given a 21-month sentence, suspended for two years, plus 180 unpaid work. John Stones pleaded guilty to common assault and threatening behaviour.

Lawyers for the defendants said how they had behaved out of character and were ashamed of what they had done.