Two sisters ‘left a guest streaming with blood after glassing him at a 40th birthday at a five-a-side football centre’

Amy Merrifield, 21, and her sister Rebecca, 24, have gone on trial today
Siblings are accused of going on the rampage at a 5-a-side football centre
Rebecca is accused of hitting Charlie Dean with bottle at 40th party
Amy then allegedly then shoved her wine glass into Mr Dean's face

By Martin Robinson, Uk Chief Reporter For Mailonline

Published: 13:28 GMT, 22 November 2016 | Updated: 17:56 GMT, 22 November 2016

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Two sisters left a guest with blood streaming down his face after he was beaten with a wine bottle and then glassed at a 40th birthday party, a court heard today.

Amy Merrifield, 21, and her 24-year-old sister Rebecca are accused of going on the rampage at the Goals five-a-side football centre in Dagenham, Essex.

Charlie Dean was allegedly hit in the eye and then glassed in the cheek on January 16 this year.

In the dock: Amy Merrifield, 21, left today, and her 24-year-old sister Rebecca, right today, are accused of going om the rampage at the Goals 5-a-side football centre in Dagenham, Essex, on January 16 this year

Another guest Tom Lydamore said he spotted Rebecca Merrifield ‘storming through’ towards Mr Dean with a wine bottle in her hand.

Amy Merrifield is accused of shoving the wine glass she had been clutching in a man's face

‘When I turned around I could see my wife’s uncle, Charlie, leaning against the bar, very dazed and disorientated, and he had blood all around his mouth,’ he said.

Jurors heard Mr Lydamore shouted: ‘What are you doing? This is a family party.’

She told him: ‘I am protecting my family - get your hands off me’ before turning and moving towards his wife,’ the court was told.

‘It was at this stage that he talks about a very quick punch from Rebecca,’ said prosecutor Nicola Shannon.

‘I didn’t know whether she was going to throw it, I didn’t know whether she was going to smash it and stick it in my face,’ Mr Lydamore said.

Jurors heard that almost simultaneously Amy, wearing a dark top and jeans, shoved the wine glass she had been clutching in his face.

‘The next thing he saw is the other girl flash in front of him, still with the glass in her hand, and putting the glass in his face,’ said the prosecutor.

‘It was Rebecca Merrifield doing the punching, still holding the wine bottle, and it was Amy with the glass above her head, waving it around and putting it in his face.’

Amy Merrifield, left and right, of Woodford Green, Essex, admits unlawful wounding but denies wounding with intent

The incident happened at the Goals five-a-side football centre in Dagenham, Essex (pictured)

Mr Lydamore suffered two deep cuts to the left side of his face which later required stitching at Queen’s Hospital.

‘He indicated to police that he saw Rebecca dancing towards Charlie, still with the bottle raised in her hand, and bring it down on the corner of Charlie’s eye with considerable force,’ Miss Shannon said.

Mr Dean’s head ‘swelled up like a Cadbury’s Creme Egg’ after he was hit with the bottle.

Amy Merrifield was arrested shortly afterwards outside the venue and eventually admitted unlawful wounding in relation to glassing Mr Lydamore, telling police: ‘I was just trying to protect my sister.’

Rebecca told police she had not punched Mr Lydamore or struck Mr Dean with the bottle.

Amy Merrifield, of Woodford Green, Essex, admits unlawful wounding but denies wounding with intent.

Rebecca Merrifield, of Stoke Newington, London, denies assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault by beating. The trial continues.