A DOZEN warring men have been arrested in just eight hours after a shocking brawl broke out at a major racecourse.

Men from Southampton and Gosport were held in custody, and 11 charged, as the fight left one man bleeding on the floor after sustaining a vicious kick to the head.

Thousands attended Goodwood on May 5, when the assault engulfed the Chichester racecourse.

Expecting to see horses and jockeys do battle on the circuit, "frightened" onlookers instead saw chaos as a group of reportedly 25 men struck one another.

In video footage captured of the brawl, which saw the fight break out of the racecourse and onto the streets, with people kicking and punching each other.

It also shows a helpless man on the floor being struck with one savage kick to the head.

At the time, it was reported that around six men, including two staff members, needed medical treatment after the fight in the Gordon enclosure.

Three were taken to hospital for minor injuries, the report added.

The arrests come as part of a Sussex Police led operation, with officers assisted by Hampshire Constabulary to conduct warrants in Southampton and Gosport in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Ceri Spratt, the Chichester Investigations team officer leading the operation, said: "We have worked hard alongside Goodwood and Hampshire Constabulary to identify these 12 suspects from the altercation and are pleased we managed to get a full house in arrests.

"The video of the altercation was widely circulated on social media at the time and this level of violence is unacceptable.

"We worked robustly with Hampshire Constabulary officers to bring each of them into custody and welcome the charging decisions by the Crown Prosecution Services."

Of the 12, 10 were later charged with violent disorder - James Whitlock, 25, of Outer Circle, Southampton; Michael Suffield , 29, of Avery Lane, Gosport, Hampshire; Jack Cooper, 22, of Hillyfields; Nursling, Southampton; Darius Wharton, 18, of Honister Close, Southampton; David Salway, 28, of Mill Pond, Gosport, Hampshire; Kyle Binns, 26, of Wessex Lane, Southampton, Hampshire, Jack McLoughlan, 23, of Outer Circle, Southampton, Hampshire; Mike Hand, 32, of Lees Lane, Gosport, Hampshire; Tyrone Sharp, 27, of Jervis Drive, Gosport, Hampshire; Peris Dore, 27, of Whitworth Road, Gosport.

They were all bailed and will appear at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 25 September.

One defendant, Lesley Sharp, 39, of Jervis Drive, Gosport, was charged with actual bodily harm and will appear alongside the other men.

A further suspect, a 29-year-old man from Gosport, was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and released under investigation.

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