BMW passenger, 23, denies shouting 'I've got acid' then squirting liquid in the face of a man who was sitting outside a pub with a drink

  • Max Kelly was in car when confrontation took place with two people outside pub
  • Pleaded not guilty pleas to two counts of common assault today in Birmingham
  • He was allegedly seen holding white plastic bottle before shouting 'I've got acid'
  • Car's driver Benjamin Prentice fined £140 after admitting public order offence

A 23-year-old BMW passenger today denied shouting 'I've got acid' then squirting liquid in the face of a man who was sitting outside a pub with a drink.

Max Kelly was in the car being driven by his friend when a confrontation took place at the roadside with two people who had been sitting outside a pub.

Self-employed Kelly pleaded not guilty to two counts of common assault at Birmingham Magistrates' Court today and will go on trial later this year.

Max Kelly was in the car being driven by his friend when a confrontation took place at the roadside with two people who had been sitting outside a pub
The car's driver Benjamin Prentice, 21, was fined £140 after admitting a public order offence

Passenger Max Kelly (left) pleaded not guilty to two counts of common assault, while the car's driver Benjamin Prentice (right, both pictured today) admitted a public order offence

Meanwhile, the car's driver Benjamin Prentice, 21, was fined £140 after admitting a public order offence in connection with the row in Dickens Heath, Solihull, on July 18.

Opening the case against Prentice today, the prosecution said a group of friends and family had been 'enjoying a nice drink' outside a pub when they spotted the BMW.

Samreen Akhtar, prosecuting, said: 'It (the car) passes a few times, screeching at the end of the road and racing (back) towards the party sat outside the pub.'

She said that one of the group, Robert Robinson, shouted at the driver to 'slow down, you t**t' as he passed The Chalice pub on Main Street.

Miss Akhtar added: 'As he's doing this, the BMW comes to an abrupt halt.'

It is alleged Kelly, getting out of the car, was then seen holding a white plastic bottle before shouting 'I've got acid'.

A confrontation allegedly took place at the roadside with two people who had been sitting outside The Chalice pub in Dickens Heath, Solihull

A confrontation allegedly took place at the roadside with two people who had been sitting outside The Chalice pub in Dickens Heath, Solihull

Kelly, formerly of Smiths Wood, Solihull, denies saying anything of the kind, according to his solicitor Philip Haycock.

It is alleged Kelly was seen holding a white plastic bottle before shouting 'I've got acid'

It is alleged Kelly was seen holding a white plastic bottle before shouting 'I've got acid'

He has claimed he acted in self-defence after the confrontation at about 8pm that evening.

Miss Akhtar said it was then alleged a liquid was 'squirted' at Mr Robinson and his friend David Hobson, and splashed the first man's face.

However, Mr Haycock told the court his client denied that allegation. The court heard that Prentice had also confronted both men, but took no direct part in the alleged 'acid' attack.

Prentice claimed one of the men outside the pub had been 'brandishing an ashtray', and 'certainly didn't hear any mention of acid', according Mr Haycock.

Mr Haycock added: 'He accepts he responded to the verbal abuse himself, and accepts swearing and throwing a fake punch.'

After the attack, Prentice and Kelly left in the car but Prentice was arrested in the early hours of the next day.

Prentice's lawyer said his unemployed client, of previous good character and of Solihull, was remorseful and his family were 'ashamed'.

Prentice was ordered to pay £135 costs and a £30 victim surcharge. Meanwhile, Kelly was unconditionally bailed for a trial at the city's magistrates' court in October.

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