Pair admit brawling in McDonalds

Incident captured on CCTV

TWO men have admitted taking part in a town centre burger bar brawl.

The scene was the McDonald’s fast food restaurant in Northbrook Street, Newbury.

In the dock at West Berkshire Magistrates’ Court were two 19-year-olds – Charlie Henaghan and Joshua Kieran Eaton.

Helen Waite, prosecuting on Thursday, June 16, said the uproar was captured on restaurant CCTV security cameras and added: “It is the Crown’s case that these two, among others, were brawling... they were all in it together.”

Mr Henaghan, of Newbury House, Andover Road, Newbury, and Mr Eaton, of no fixed address, each admitted one count of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of, or provoke, unlawful violence on April 13.

Steve Molloy, representing both defendants, said: “These young men, who were friends before this incident and are friends again now, had a disagreement that resulted in them squaring up and having a scuffle in McDonald’s.

“One school of thought may say, ‘no one else was hurt and they sustained a few bruises, let’s just send them on their way’ – however this offence carries a potential sentence ranging from a low- level community penalty right up to 12 weeks in custody.”

He added: “I therefore suggest pre-sentence reports are prepared.”

Magistrates concurred but warned both men these would be prepared on an ‘all-options’ basis, including custody.

Mr Henaghan and Mr Eaton were both released on conditional bail until August 24.