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A takeaway scuffle unfolded after a drunk tried buying a packet of chips with seven Rizlas

Teesside Magistrates’ Court heard claims charity boxes and chairs were used as weapons during the fracas inside Middlesbrough’s Perfect Chicken.

But the case against defendant Anthony Mclean collapsed in court, with the 29-year-old cleared of a role in the fracas.

Footage filmed by the Gazette played a key role in the case, with Mclean’s solicitor claiming the takeaway’s boss changed his account after watching our Facebook Live clip.

The footage showed the police arresting Mclean on June 22 after a 999 call.

“(Mclean) said can I get a portion of chips, so I asked him for £1.40,” said takeaway boss Sheraz Butt at Wednesday’s hearing.

“He started getting me the Rizlas and said they were worth 20p each.

“I said that is not money, it is a cigarettes Rizla.

“But he said no, it is money.”

Moments later, bedlam broke out at the Borough Road chicken shop.

It was claimed Mr Mclean hurled a charity tin at the owner before the pair wrestled over a stool.

It was then alleged that Mr Mclean attempted to kick and punch cook Tofeek Khan after throwing him to the floor.

“He just came at us very aggressively like he wanted to fight,” added Mr Butt.

But solicitor Paul Dixon claimed there were “discrepancies” in what the duo told police and what they told the court.

He claimed the takeaway boss alone had three different accounts of the melee, at one point asking Mr Butt: “Are you making it up as you go along?”

And the solicitor even claimed Roseberry Park resident Mr Mclean was the real victim.

The 999 caller told the operator that it was Mr Mclean, not the takeaway staff, who was the victim, even fearing he’d broke his arm.

The officer who arrived at the scene said he arrested Mclean - who he found topless - after viewing CCTV footage at the scene.

But when asked why that footage wasn’t available to the court as evidence, PC Steven Neale admitted it was because police had not collected it.

The court heard Cleveland Police had 26 days to retrieve the footage, which Mr Butt didn’t know how to do.

Yet despite PC Neale claiming to have made several requests for Cleveland Police to get it, the force ran out of time.

And he admitted Mr Khan, who appeared in court with a translator, should also have had one when he gave his statement.

Magistrates found Mr Mclean not guilty of two charges of assault by beating.