Families flee the pub as gunmen burst in chasing and attacking the victim

People ran from their village pub after two men armed with a knife and a broken pool cue burst out with a third man – who they were attacking. The incident happened at around 6pm on a Tuesday evening when several families were in the Old Crown Inn in the village of Fleckney, just south of Leicester.

When the victim intervened, followed by the two attackers, she was captured by the pub’s CCTV. Jed Sykes, 29, and his accomplice were seen punching the man, who defended himself with a pub chair, as people ran into the street to escape.

Several Fleckney villagers had already called Leicestershire police earlier after seeing the two attackers tackle the other man to the ground outside the nearby co-op. At Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, June 26, where Sykes pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon and using threatening behavior with intent to cause fear of violence, prosecutor Sally Bedford explained what happened.

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She said: “It was a serious violent incident. This defendant was armed with a pool cue, but it is a joint venture, and his co-defendant was armed with a knife.

“The events unfolded on October 24 last year at around 6pm when there were a number of 999 calls about a fight and people with guns near the Old Crown and Co-operative in the village centre.

“A woman called the police and said two aggressive men were chasing a third man and one had a knife and the other had a pool cue. The pursued man fell to the ground in front of her, and this defendant and his accomplice were seen throwing punches.

“The victim managed to get up and tried to run into the pub. All three rushed into the pub.

“There were young people and families and all sorts of people in the pub. Inside the pub, the two defendants continued to follow the man.

“There are thrusting movements made by the man with the knife. Both defendants attacked the man and he tried to defend himself by lifting furniture.

“They chase him through the pub and people disperse. The police arrive and the incident ends.”

Raza Sakhi, representing Sykes, of Elizabeth Road, 29, Fleckney, said the victim had been armed with a knife, which fell out of his pocket when he was knocked to the floor in the pub. He added that the broken pool cue Sykes was wielding had been taken from the victim, who had first wielded it.

Magistrates decided the incident was too serious for them to handle and should go to Leicester Crown Court. The bank’s chairman, Gareth Roberts, said: “After looking at the CCTV, we believe that the sentencing powers of this court are not sufficient to resolve this matter.”

Magistrates only have the power to jail people for up to six months. The court heard Sykes’ co-accused was dealt with separately and has already been charged.

Both men are expected to be sentenced together at Leicester Crown Court at a future date.