Five men appear in court over alleged street brawl in Newport

Five men have appeared in court in connection with a street brawl that  erupted between suspected  drug dealers in Newport.

Michael Attard, 26, of Abergele Road, Rumney, and   Ethan Brown, 20, of Clarendon  Road, Penylan, appeared at  Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court today charged with violent  disorder and possession of cannabis with intent to supply.

Attard denied the charges and  Brown, who was also charged  with dangerous driving, chose  not to enter a plea.

Their co-accused, Steven Baker, 20, of Coity Terrace,  Pontypool, also chose not to  enter a plea on charges of violent disorder and possession  of cannabis with intent to supply.

All three were arrested on  Monday alongside two men from Bristol after police were called to a brawl in Bank  Street, Newport.

A sixth man, from Cardiff, is  still in a “critical but stable”  condition at the Heath hospital  after he was hit by a van on  nearby Caerleon Road following the fight, police said.

At the time, police believed the  37-year-old could also have injured his leg during the scrap.

The 47-year-old driver of the  van, who was not connected to  the other men, was also arrested at the scene on suspicion  of dangerous driving and has  since been bailed pending further enquiries.

Daniel Short, 27, of Edmund  Road, Bristol, also appeared in  court yesterday and chose not  to enter pleas on charges of  violent disorder, possession of  cannabis with intent to supply  and carrying a kitchen knife.

His co-accused, David Hopkins, 27, of Radnor Gardens,  Bristol, also chose not to enter  a plea on charges of violent  disorder, possession of cannabis and dangerous driving.

All five defendants have been  remanded in custody until their  next hearing at Newport  Crown Court on September 5.