A ‘Wild West’ brawl that erupted inside a busy shop has landed one of the protagonists in court.

James Peacock was at the heart of the four-man fight which also included his father and two former friends when they clashed in Asda on Neasham Road, Darlington.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 20-year-old threw the first punch after his father became embroiled in an argument with the other two men in October last year.

CCTV footage shown to the judge captured Peacock throwing a number of ‘haymakers’ as other shoppers tried to get out of the way of the violence.

After watching the footage, Judge James Brown asked if the incident had happened in ‘Dodge City’ as it looked like something out of the Wild West.

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The trouble flared after the Peacocks claimed they had been followed by the other two men – Karl Nimmo and Elroy McArthur - and one is accused of saying ‘stab him’.

Hexham Courant: Asda on Neasham Road, DarlingtonAsda on Neasham Road, Darlington

Emma Atkinson, prosecuting, said the fight took place in front of a number of customers who were unable to get out of the way.

She added: “There clearly words exchanged between the two other men and his father – it certainly gives the impression from the body language that it was to be taken outside.

“The defendant approaches in a rather aggressive manner and he has thrown the first punch towards Mr McArthur.”

Peacock, of Yarm Road, Yarm, pleaded guilty to a section 4 public order offence following the melee in the store.

His father received a suspended sentence of 26 weeks for 24 months, Miss Atkinson said.

Elroy McAthur, 25, and Karl Nimmo, who was 19 at the time, both were sentenced to 12-month community orders with 200 hours of unpaid work.

Martin Towers, in mitigation, said his client was ‘immature’ for his age but was becoming a more responsible adult after becoming a father for the first time.

He urged the judge to pass a non-custodial sentence to enable the probation service to work with Peacock to address his issues.

He added: “It really arose out of a background involving his father rather than him and he reacted to it rather unwisely.”

Judge Brown sentenced Peacock to a three-months in custody suspended for 18-months for the public order offence.

He said: “People were shopping, minding their own business, and then the saw this melee with you throwing haymakers. It was appalling behaviour.”

Peacock also had a previous suspended sentence extended to 18-months for 18-months as a result of his latest conviction.

He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and attend 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

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