Two brothers have appeared in the dock together after a violent bar brawl that was caught on camera left an Aberdeen pub in a “state of disarray”.
Ellis and Finley Leisk attacked customers at the Brig ‘O’ Dee pub with a pool cue, chairs and discharging a fire extinguisher.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard that the brothers – aged 20 and 19 respectively – got into a friendly exchange with a group of men before things got heated and a fight ensued.
One victim had a pool cue snapped over his back.
It was stated that Ellis Leisk then later absconded and was “at large” before being apprehended by police.
He appeared in the dock facing a total of 45 allegations.
One charge included carrying a machete, while another involved causing permanent disfigurement to a 21-year-old man by striking him with a knife during a street robbery in Aberdeen.
Watch: Chaos at the Brig ‘O’ Dee pub
Fiscal depute Rebecca Thompson said that the Leisks had been at the Holburn Street pub until 6pm on October 6 last year but left, before returning again an hour later.
“Upon returning, Ellis Leisk looked over in the direction of the witnesses and engaged them in conversation,” she said.
“He then gestured for them to come towards him as Finlay Leisk joined his co-accused in speaking to the witnesses.
“The complainer got up from his seat and walked over to the accused and pointed at them and Finlay Leisk moved toward him where the complainer punched Finlay Leisk to the head.
“The accused Ellis Leisk immediately responded by punching the complainer to the head.
“Another complainer then rushed towards Ellis Leisk but was stopped by an associate of the accused.
“Accused Finlay Leisk then took hold of a pool cue, rushed towards the other complainer and struck him on the body with the pool cue, causing it to break.”
‘Punches thrown by all parties’
The brawl then escalated with “punches being thrown by all parties,” Ms Thompson told the court.
Finlay Leisk then used the piece of broken pool cue he was holding to strike one of the men across the back, which caused it to break further.
Both brothers ran out of the pub but Ellis Leisk returned with an advertising board, which he threw towards the men before picking up a chair and throwing that too.
He then picked up a fire extinguisher which he discharged in the faces of the men.
Finlay Leisk then picked up another chair and attempted to throw it before being stopped by a friend.
He stepped back and as he did so his brother Ellis then re-started the fire extinguisher, causing the room to be filled with liquid residue.
Pub ‘in a state of disarray’
His brother Finlay then threw another chair at one of the men, but he managed to duck to avoid being hit.
The two brothers then continued to argue with the men before leaving the bar.
“The locus was left in a state of disarray,” Ms Thompson said.
One of the men was left with bruising to his right eye, swelling to his left ear and swelling and tenderness to his upper right arm, while the other man sustained a cut to his forehead.
Ellis and Finlay Leisk pleaded guilty to two charges of assault that included causing injury by punching, throwing chairs, throwing an advertising board, striking with a pool cue and discharging a fire extinguisher.
Ellis Leisk admitted a further 43 charges that included road traffic violations, carrying an offensive weapon, attempted burglary and causing severe injury and permanent disfigurement.
His defence agent Iain Hingston told the court that he had “never dealt with as many indictments” against one client.
“It’s so disappointing,” he said. “Everyone has been trying to do the best by Mr Leisk as he’s still young.
“But he’s always accepted his behaviour and he recognises that a significant period of detention will have to be imposed here.
“He’s deeply sorry to everyone who has been impacted by his behaviour.”
Debbie Ginniver, the defence solicitor for Finlay Leisk, told the court that her client had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.
“He is in a different position than his brother today,” she added.
Sheriff Andrew Miller told Finlay Leisk that he had taken part in a “serious disturbance” at the Bridge of Dee Bar.
Speaking to Ellis Leisk, the sheriff told him he faced a “significant amalgamation” of charges for someone who is only 20.
“You committed further offences while you were under order and you absconded and remained at large until your next arrest,” he said.
Sheriff Miller locked up Ellis Leisk, of Abbotswell Road, Aberdeen, for 3 years and eight months.
As an alternative to a custodial sentence, the sheriff handed Finlay Leisk, of Montrose Drive, Aberdeen, a community payback order with supervision for 12 months.
He also put Finlay Leisk on a restriction of liberty order for six months.
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