A man has been jailed for injuring two men with a corkscrew during a mass brawl in a pub in Barnstaple.

The fight, involving more than 20 people, broke out in the Horse and Groom in Boutport Street. It later spilled out into the road and caused mayhem in the town centre. Witnesses reported seeing 10 police cars and two ambulances between Panniers and Webbers.

One man was rushed to hospital suffering from reported stab injuries.

Toby Rogers, 36, of Princess Avenue, Ilfracombe, appeared in court on Friday and was sentenced to two years and four months in prison for assaulting the victim and a second man with a Swiss Army knife.

CCTV played to Exeter Crown Court showed Rogers initially acting as peacemaker before chasing a man around the pool table and wrestling on the ground.

The court was told the free-for-all started when two groups of men confronted each other in the pub. It ended later that evening when a bouncer at a nearby club stepped in to save Rogers from a beating by a group of men who claimed he had stabbed them.

Toby Rogers has been jailed for bar room brawl in Barnstaple
Toby Rogers has been jailed for bar room brawl in Barnstaple

Prosecutor Ms Kelly Scrivener said it happened on May 3.

The defendant was seen putting his arm around a friend who was squaring up to another man. A few seconds later one of the men laid out the other and men and women from both sides waded in.

Rogers could be seen running around the pool table and throwing punches at another man who was fighting back.

Witnesses said he had a 'multi-tool' in his hand. As the brawl ran out of steam a woman who worked at the pub told Rogers to hand the item over, which he did.

The defendant later claimed it did not belong to him. He had taken it from his friend earlier to defuse the situation and only intended to use it as some sort of knuckleduster.

"He was pursued by a group of men from the pub," said Ms Scrivener. "He went to a local nightclub where a doorman stepped in. The pursuing men said he had stabbed them."

Police in Barnstaple at the scene of the mass brawl

Rogers has a history of violence.

It started when he was just 14 years old and ended with a conviction in 2014 for a public order offence. In between he had two convictions for GBH with intent, battery, theft, assaulting a PC and witness intimidation. His most serious violence led to a seven year sentence for assault and being considered a dangerous offender.

"It was a blip," said Mr Richard Crabb, for Rogers. "The injuries were cuts more than stab wounds."

On the day of the violence he had been to the funeral of a close friend and drunk four pints.

"He didn't start the trouble but when trouble started and someone went to punch him he chased him around the pool table," said Mr Crabb.

Horse and Groom Barnstaple (Google)
Horse and Groom Barnstaple (Google)

Rogers now suffered from anxiety, depression and agoraphobia.

Judge Peter Johnson said his behaviour had improved since his youth and he would not impose and extended sentence for the latest offence.

"You were in the pub and had consumed some alcohol when a fight broke out," he said. "I accept you tried to act as the peacemaker and equally you did not start the violence. The violence was started by a man you tried to restrain who threw a punch.

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"In the melee you pursued a man. You must have had a multi-tool and you can be seen scratching a man to the area where he had wounds. You injured not one man but two that day. It is said you didn't have a knife but a corkscrew which was seized by a member of pub staff."

He said police had studied the CCTV and considered whether to charge Rogers with a more serious offence. They had decided not to.

The judge was told there was no indication anybody else had been charged with an offence relating to the mass brawl.