A COURT has heard a wedding ended in a mass brawl with up to 25 people fighting.

Lee Gramtham and Jodie Hamilton, both 23, attended Hamilton’s sister’s wedding at the Marks Tey Hotel on June 12.

Sharon Hall, prosecuting, told Colchester Magistrates’ Court: “Mr Gramtham was at the bar for most of the evening and he was talking to the bar staff there for a long time and became drunk.

“He became very abusive to other people attending the wedding and was told to calm down.

“Miss Hamilton approached him and told him that he was embarrassing her and ruining her sister’s wedding.”

The bar staff threatened to remove Gramtham from the hotel and Hamilton became abusive, threatening to “smack the waitress in the mouth”, and saying she would “cut her up” and take her outside to “slit her throat”.

Miss Hall said: “Then it all just seemed to kick off.

“A massive fight broke out involving around 25 people with Gramtham punching out randomly.”

Hotel duty manager Tracy Ashby was grabbed around the throat by Gramtham who then pushed her.

Paul Baker, mitigating, said: “There were no issues or problems during the early part of the evening, but Mr Gramtham was in the bar area and was consuming a large amount of alcohol.

“The couple do not usually drink alcohol and haven’t done in a considerable amount of time.

“He is very remorseful and very sorry.”

Gramtham, who claims he does not remember the incident, suffered a broken finger, a chipped tooth and scratches to his arm during the brawl.

Magistrates adjourned the sentencing for probation to make reports on the unemployed couple, from Demesne Road, in Wallington, Surrey.

Gramtham pleaded guilty to assault and his partner, Hamilton, admitted threatening behaviour.

Chairman of the bench, David Druitt, said the bench were considering a community order of unpaid work.