Barmaid hit with pool ball after three family members get into brawl during birthday party

What should have been a celebratory birthday party at a Nottingham club descended into violence as four women fought with pool cues and balls. One barmaid needed hospital treatment after being struck with one of the balls thrown during the shocking melee involving three members of one family and a woman who was with her daughter.

During it, sisters Emma and Sarah Spooner, along with one of the daughters, Renee Spooner, battled with Orla Godfrey as other drinkers and bar staff tried to calm the situation. Now the three Spooners have found out their fate while 57-year-old Godfrey, also known as Marie Carter, will have her case heard at a later date.

Sentencing the Spooners at Nottingham Crown Court, Judge James Sampson said: “Emma Spooner, Renee Spooner and Sarah Spooner, your behaviour on this day was disgraceful. For whatever reason you got involved in this argument and it is unfortunate that a variety of weapons were at hand - pool cues and pool balls.

“Most unfortunately, a nasty injury was caused, not necessarily directly by you but indirectly by you and the barmaid who was hit by a ball sustained a very, very, nasty injury to her ear. It was an ugly episode.”

Serena Varatharajah, prosecuting, said the disturbance took place at what was supposed to be Renee Spooner’s 20th birthday celebrations in New Basford, on March 12, 2022. She showed CCTV of the violence breaking out at the Stadium Leisure and Steakhouse Bar and Grill in Nottingham Road.

In it, Emma Spooner approaches Godfrey, who is playing pool with her daughter, and grabs her cue. Godfrey is then alleged to have thrown pool balls at the women and one of them hits a barmaid, who has tried to calm the matter, on the head.

During the incident all three Spooners, who pleaded guilty to affray, become involved to varying degrees. Emma Spooner, who this week turned 40 and is of Johnson Avenue, Hucknall, has 17 convictions for 32 offences.

She was handed a nine-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, with 15 rehabilitation sessions. Matt Hayes, mitigating, said: “An alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement may be suitable for her.”

Sarah Spooner, 37, who lives with her 19-year-old son in Nine Acre Gardens, Snape Wood, was jailed for seven months, suspended for 18 months, with 10 sessions.

Ellesse Taylor, her barrister said: “She’s under no illusions as to the seriousness of the offending and accepts that it crosses the custodial threshold. She recognises she only has herself to blame”

And Renee Spooner, 22, of Kiln Place, Bulwell, was handed a four-month jail term, also suspended for 18 months with 10 rehabilitation sessions.

Gareth Gimson, mitigating, said: “She now has an eight-month-old baby and her involvement in this was less than the others.” Godfrey’s case will be heard at a future date.