Man admits 'throwing first punch' in gym brawl
A man has admitted "throwing the first punch" in a fight inside an Aintree gym. Vaughan Lane, 29, of Dodds Lane in Maghull, pleaded guilty to affray following the incident, which took place at the Everlast Gym on Ormskirk Road in 2023.
Merseyside Police were called at around 10.25am on February 28 to reports of fighting between a group of men inside the premises. Vaughan Lane was later arrested in connection with the incident, along with his brother Alexander Lane, 25, also of Dodds Lane, Cory Bruen, 30, of Cleadon Road, Kirkby, and Peter Humphreys, 42, of Roughwood Drive, Kirkby.
All four men appeared at a pre-trial review at Liverpool Crown Court today, January 27, on affray charges. Vaughan Lane pleaded guilty to the charge at a previous hearing. Callum Ross, defending him, said: "He accepts throwing the first punch and chasing one of the co-defendants towards the other side of the gym. The matter is captured on CCTV and he doesn't dispute what's on the footage."
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Alexander Lane, Bruen and Humphreys all entered not guilty pleas, and a trial date was set for April 28 2025 by Judge Charlotte Crangle. Vaughan Lane will be sentenced following the conclusion of the trial, she said.
Bruen and Humphreys, who appeared in court via video links from HMP Liverpool and HMP Altcourse, were remanded in custody, while the Lanes were bailed.