A magistrate has warned that anyone convicted in connection with a mass fight at Cup Match should expect to face "immediate custodial sentences".

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said: "This callous behaviour by groups to the danger of the public at large must stop, and these courts will do their part in attempting to stop it."

Mr. Warner jailed a man involved in the confrontation for a year yesterday, despite his claims he was only defending himself.

Shomari Woods, 30, admitted theft of alcoholic beverages and possession of an offensive weapon, namely a glass bottle, at Plea Court yesterday.

He also admitted taking part in a fight but denied a further charge of riotous behaviour.

The court heard Woods got caught up in an alleged gang fight at the first floor bar of St. George's Cricket Club on July 31, during the Cup Match Classic.

Up to 5,000 people were in attendance at the game when two groups of men started throwing bottles at each other. The violence spilt out from the bar and into the ground itself, the court heard.

Ten men have so far been arrested for allegedly taking part in the fight at the Wellington Oval.

Magistrates' Court heard yesterday that although Woods was not considered part of two groups allegedly involved, he retaliated to the fracas by "jumping over bar counters, removing liquor bottles and pelting them at the other fighters".

Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney said the confrontation broke out at around 8.15 p.m. as up to 50 people were inside the bar on the first floor of the clubhouse.

"There were two particular groups of young Bermudians, one from St. George's and one from the central area," said Mr. Mahoney.

"The central group were seen moving in a hostile manner towards the St. George's group. It appeared the central group was stalking the St. George's group and there was a stand-off.

"A bar stool was then thrown towards the St. George's group and both started hurtling bottles and chairs towards each other.

"Other persons inside the bar began running to and fro, taking evasive action. It caused terror to those present at the ground. People began screaming and running to escape the missiles."

Mr. Mahoney said: "This defendant was drinking with a friend at the lower level bar. When the altercation broke out he jumped over the bar and threw a bottle at a group of men involved."

The court heard Woods, of Pembroke, was already serving a year's suspended sentence for assault causing bodily harm in an incident last year.

"I was in the bar talking to the bartenders and was then stood by the jukebox when bottles started being thrown," he said.

"Something ricocheted across the machine and cut me near the eye. I automatically reacted. If I am wrong for defending myself, I don't know what to say."

Mr. Warner told him: "I hear what you say but in this mêlée you were seen in the lower bar area jumping over bar counters, removing liquor bottles and pelting them at the other fighters."

Woods replied: "I'm defending myself. I'm not going to stand there and let them beat me down."

But Mr. Warner said: "I must consider what type of effect this had on the public. This offence occurred at the premier sporting event in circumstances which seriously threatened the public who were in attendance.

"This behaviour, which is occurring far too frequently, must be discontinued and cannot be encouraged. In my view these offences call for a deterrent sentence as part of the package, so to speak.

"This callous behaviour by groups to the danger of the public at large must stop, and these courts will do their part in attempting to stop it.

"This matter calls for immediate custodial sentences."

He jailed Woods for nine months and also activated the 12 months' suspended sentence, to run concurrently.

Ten other men have been charged in connection with the incident and will be appearing in Magistrate's Court at a later date for trial.