A "fast, frightening" punch-up erupted at an inquest into the mystery death of a one-year-old baby, it has been alleged.

Chairs and punches were thrown at Maidstone's Archbishop's Palace in November 2018.

Violence broke out after the mother's boyfriend was reluctant to give evidence after claiming he had received threats, a jury at Maidstone Crown Court has heard.

As assistant coroner Ian Wade QC was trying to persuade him to answer questions at the inquest into the death of Jimmy Robinson a fight broke out.

Prosecutor Patricia May said chairs and punches were thrown during the fracas and the child's father was bitten.

The baby's father Tommy Robinson, 23, of Connaught Road, Chatham; grandfather James Robinson, of North Dane, Chatham; Joe Elkington-Rose, 24, of St Paul's Close, Strood; Shane Ince, 33, of Wayfield Road, Chatham; and Abbey Robinson, 30, of Pretoria Road, Gillingham are now in the dock accused of affray.

All five have denied the charge and James Robinson has also denied a further charge of assault on an emergency worker, DC Paul Oliver.

Mrs May claimed the five had threatened unlawful violence during the incident and the Crown is planning to call many witnesses during the trial which is expected to last at least three weeks.

The inquest had been looking into the circumstances surrounding the death Jimmy Robinson, who had died five days before his second birthday in June 2017.

Mrs May said a police investigation into the death had resulted in "no arrests or charges of any individual and the cause of death could not be ascertained."

At the inquest was the baby's mother Jordan Beck, her then partner Elkington-Rose, the baby's father James Robinson, Ince, a cousin in the Robinson family, and Abbey Robinson an aunt.

The prosecutor said DC Oliver had been one of the officers who had investigated the circumstances of the child's sudden death and had spoken with family members.

Mrs May added: "Jordan had given evidence in the morning and finished at about 12.25pm and the Coroner, aware of disturbances in the court room, ordered a short break before calling the next witness.

"An officer went outside and said it was noticeable that members of the Robinson family were hostile towards Elkington-Rose."

The prosecutor claimed that Tommy Robinson referred to Elkington-Rose as "**** ****" and Ince claimed a death threat was made against Elkington-Rose.

Mrs May continued: "The Coroner was informed Elkington-Rose was refusing to give evidence because he claimed he had been threatened by other people so he decided to go and speak to him in the witness waiting area."

He was accompanied by James Robinson and an usher but when Elkington-Rose and Robinson saw each other a fight broke out.

DC Oliver, who was sitting in the courtroom, Tommy Robinson and others rushed out when they heard shouting.

Mrs May said an usher later described how another police officer, who was trying to protect a little child, and Jordan Beck, who had another child in her arms, were "barged into her, knocking them into a doorframe."

She would claim the man who barged them was James Robinson, the jury heard.

The prosecutor said the usher then saw Elkington-Rose lift a chair "in her mind to defend himself" as other men rushed in.

Elkington-Rose then began waving his hands around and accidentally struck an officer - and he immediately apologised.

In the melee, people saw chairs being thrown and heard glass being smashed, Elkington-Rose had his shirt torn and Abbey Robinson was seen biting his forearm, it was alleged.

Mrs May said the Coroner was trying to restore peace but his pleas had little effect on all the scrapping parties, she added.

She claimed an officer heard Tommy Robinson trying to get at Elkington-Rose shouting: "I'll knock your ****** head off."

Tommy Robinson, James Robinson and Ince were all seen brandishing chairs and James threw his chair at Elkington-Rose before he grabbed a detective's shirt and pulled and pushed him, the jury heard.

The assistant coroner said the incident was "fast, frightening, confusing and shocking."

Some 14 police officers were sent to the historic venue. It is believed to be the first time in living memory police had to be called to a Kent inquest.

The trial continues.

Miss Beck has previously paid a loving tribute to her baby

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