A BUST-UP at a man’s wake which landed his daughter and godson in court has been described by a judge as “disturbing”.

The brawl took place on the outside the Black Horse Inn, in Willington, and involved a number of people who had attended the funeral of Chelsea Paige Hodges’s father.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court today (August 8) heard the 19-year-old smashed a glass in the pub’s doorway before going onto the street where a large group formed.

John Garside, prosecuting, said tensions became heated at the wake on May 25 and Hodges was seen to struggle with her mother in an “aggressive manner” before punching her and attacking a pregnant woman who she hit to the floor.

District Judge Martin Walker was told the pregnant victim’s husband and co-defendant, Wayne William Boughen, 31, then became involved in a fight with another man.

Mr Garside said the other man ended up on the floor, after a punch thrown by Boughen, where he kicked him several times to the head and neck area.

Both defendants previously pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour with intent to cause fear of or provoke violence.

A probation officer said Hodges, of Birchdrive, Willington, claimed she got involved to defend another man. He said she did not have a problem with alcohol and was not aware the victim was seven weeks pregnant.

Another probation officer said father-of-two Boughen, of Huntsgarth, Sunnybrow, was “appalled” by his behaviour during what she called an isolated incident in “exceptional circumstances”.

Judge Walker said: “It’s sad to see that public meetings of family, of weddings, funerals, and rarer, christenings, seem to be the meetings of high celebration and all too often, because of alcohol and tensions between family members, are cases that come to court more than you would wish for. The whole scenario was quite disturbing.”

Hodges was given a six-month community order with a requirement to carry out eight rehabilitation activity days. Boughen, the deceased’s godson, was ordered to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work. They must pay £50 prosecution costs and an £85 victim surcharge.