hello?

[leanaryall]

Hi, my partner and our friend was involved in a scuffle with my ex. My ex, although we separated in March, was harrassing me via email at work, text and phone calls.

On a works night out in town, my ex had the brazen cheek to text me asking if 'we could meet up, put the break up behind us and go out like old friends for a catch up.' When I got the text, I did not even dignify it with a response, however my partner contacted my ex and said 'She has told you she doesn't want anything to do with you anymore, so why don't you respect her wishes and leave her be?'

My ex was being confrontational and they met up there and then. My partner was being civil, just repeatdely telling him to leave me alone, and ex was goading non-stop. Our friend although not involved, was on the bylines just watching in case. My ex threw the first punch, our friend jumped in to help my other half, they all ended up in the railings = fight with our friend punching him a few times while he's on the ground, and my partner kicking him in the back while he's on the floor.

Unfortunately there is CCTV footage involved - however it is biased as it only shows the last 5 minutes where we see my ex on the ground being hit. There is no footage of the speaking and argument 20 minutes prior to that, or of my ex throwing the first punch.

Both my partner and our friend have been charged with ABH, it would've been common assault had my ex not had a broken thumb. However he probably broke his own thumb punching like a girl and he provoked the attack . The court date is in a couple of weeks, and is being kept it in magistrates. Maximum is a sentence of 6 months.

My partner has no previous convictions, is a good citizen and is on the up and work - good character. And he also pleaded guilty first off.
Any ideas?