A FATHER and son have been fined at Worcester Crown Court after being found guilty of an early morning affray outside a Kidderminster nightclub.
The violent confrontation was described as the battle of Kidderminster by prosecutor Tim Sapwell.
Self-employed printer Matthew Lewis, 36, of Elmdale Drive, Kidderminster, was ordered to pay £1,000 at £250 a month.
His son Andrew, 18, of Comberton Avenue, Kidderminster, was fined £100.
Both were found guilty on 10-2 majority verdicts.
Judge David McEvoy QC said Matthew Lewis, a former nightclub doorman, had set a bad example to his son and had spoilt a 20-year break from violence.
Andrew Lewis had spoilt his good character.
The court heard that the pair were seen standing over two injured men outside Redwoods nightclub on May 30 last year.
The prosecution alleged that they were seen kicking the men on the floor.
Andrew Lewis said he had been punched on the head earlier in the evening and had complained to his father.
He had only pushed a man in the melee which ensued later.
"I hid behind my dad because I was scared," he told the court.
Matthew Lewis, who denied he had left the club to exact revenge for the attack on his son, said he had punched two men to the ground because he had been threatened but he denied kicking.
Matthew Lewis said he was aggrieved that the men who caused the trouble had not been prosecuted.
Defence counsel William Rickarby and Tariq Shakoor said the men who had started the violence had "behaved like yobs" but had not been called to give evidence.
The judge said he was not awarding compensation to the two injured men because they had failed to support the prosecution case.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article