A Christmas Eve confrontation between rival groups from the Cleckheaton and Mirfield areas has cost nine men a £1,000 fine each.

Leeds Crown Court heard that both groups had been drinking in the George public house in Cleckheaton on December 24 last year and as a result of some scuffles breaking out a number of them had been asked to leave or escorted out.

As they left one of the Mirfield group, Thomas Hague punched another man in the face outside causing him a bleeding nose.

He then punched two men in the Cleckheaton group knocking Bradley Balmforth to the ground and striking Ryan Foster in his face, when he was recovering from a broken jaw.

David Ward prosecuting said both groups then moved away and were dispersing towards a taxi rank when trouble recommenced after Luke Whitehead “appears to order the Mirfield group back to confront the Cleckheaton group.”

That led to separate fights in the car park between a number of the defendants from the different groups before three of the Cleckheaton group Luke Bales, Jordan Bales and Hayden Anderson picked up large stones and began throwing them at their opponents.

Mr Ward said Whitehead then picked up a stone and threw it back before he was knocked to the ground. Luke Hird also threw a stone before he walked away forcefully pushing a female in the Mirfield group knocking her on to her back.

Hague, 20 of Nettleton Road, Mirfield admitted affray and two offences of common assault.

Whitehead, 23 of Northway Gardens, Mirfield; Hayden Anderson, 19 of Eleventh Avenue, Windy Bank, Liversedge; Elliot John Smith, 21 of Calder View, Mirfield; Jordan Bales, 20 of Oxford Road, Gomersal, Cleckheaton; Thomas Brooke, 21 of Huddersfield Road, Liversedge; Lewis Byrne, 22 of Norristhorpe Avenue, Liversedge; Hird, 20 of Oxford Road, Cleckheaton and Luke Bates, 19 of Eleventh Avenue, Windy Banks, Liversedge each admitted affray.

After hearing they were working or in the case of Hird in the army Judge James Spencer QC said he would fine each £1,000 with £200 costs and victim surcharge of £100.