Police called to tackle violence at weddings in North Kirklees

Getting married should be the happiest day in any couple’s life.
Kerry Wyatt and Dan Spencer arrested at their wedding in Emmerdale.Kerry Wyatt and Dan Spencer arrested at their wedding in Emmerdale.
Kerry Wyatt and Dan Spencer arrested at their wedding in Emmerdale.

But for 16 unlucky brides and grooms in North Kirklees, their big day quickly turned sour when an uninvited guest turned up – the police.

Figures obtained by the Reporter Series reveal officers were sent to break up trouble on 17 occasions in the last two-and-a-half years.

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Our investigation found three people were arrested – two at the same wedding – as emotions boiled over into violence. Weddings rarely ever run smoothly for couples in the soaps, as recently proved in Emmerdale. Kerry Wyatt and Dan Spencer defied the odds by making it down the aisle but their wedding reception was interrupted by an unexpected visitor.

While speeches were being made in tribute to the newlyweds, Kerry’s ‘other’ husband Kev made a surprise appearance. Tempers quickly reached boiling point and punches were thrown, leading to him being arrested alongside Dan and Kerry.

And it seems weddings in our district can be just as dramatic. The 16 weddings that needed police intervention were held between January 1, 2012, and June 30, 2014, but no further action was taken.

Popular wedding venue Gomersal Park Hotel and Aakash Restaurant, both in Cleckheaton, were the places most visited by police. They were called to each venue on three occasions, including twice to the same wedding at the Aakash Restaurant in April this year.

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Police have also been called to weddings in Dewsbury, Batley, Mirfield and Heckmondwike. Chief Insp Marianne Huison, of Kirklees Police, said: “If police receive a call for service to an incident or location where a crime is reported to be taking place, then officers will attend as expected.”

Police were called to 16 weddings in North Kirklees between January 2012 and June this year.

2012

March – Gomersal Park Hotel in Cleckheaton.

April – Bradford Road in Dewsbury.

July – St Luke Church in Cleckheaton.

August – Gomersal Park Hotel in Cleckheaton.

September – Far Common Road in Mirfield

2013

June – Gomersal Park Hotel in Cleckheaton.

August – Heath Cottage Hotel Limited in Dewsbury.

August – Manor Way in Batley.

August – Common Road Working Men’s Club in Batley.

August – Calder Road in Dewsbury.

September – Woodkirk Valley Country Club in Dewsbury.

2014

February – Woodkirk Valley Country Club in Dewsbury.

April – Aakash Restaurant in Cleckheaton (twice to the same wedding).

May – Aakash Restaurant in Cleckheaton.

June – Old Mill View in Dewsbury.

June – Six Lanes End Working Men’s Club in Heckmondwike