THREE men involved in what a judge described as "disgraceful" violence in a busy pub walked free from court yesterday.

Two brothers who armed themselves during the fight at the Tap and Spile in Darlington were given suspended jail sentences.

A former soldier who started the trouble but ended up with the worst injuries was given a community order with supervision.

Footage of the early morning November brawl was played when the men appeared at Teesside Crown Court to be sentenced.

The judge, Recorder Henry Prosser, told the shamed Darlington trio: "It was a disgraceful incident, as I suspect you all now know.

"This court simply cannot overlook offences of public disorder of this seriousness."

Chef James Cooney, 27, was given a six-month prison term, suspended for two years, with 150 hours of unpaid work and £500 costs.

His unemployed brother Jacob Cooney, 25, received three months, suspended for a year, also with 150 hours of community work.

Ex-serviceman Andrew Maloney, 41, was given a 12-month community order and must be supervised by the Probation Service.

His barrister, Peter Sabiston, told the court that he lost his job as a technician after the incident and has struggled to find work.

He said: "He is devastated by this and is genuinely fearful of what the court might do . . . he feels a degree of sorrow for it.

"One might feel he was, perhaps, the author of his own misfortune, but he received quite significant injuries that night."

The court heard how Maloney, of Hewitson Road, "over-reacted" when he thought the brothers were looking to cause trouble.

He lashed out at James Cooney before Jacob Cooney got involved and then went to the pool room to pick up a bottle.

Prosecutor Harry Hadfield said the weapon was never used, but after they were thrown out, James Cooney hit Maloney with a pint glass.

Father-of-two Maloney was left with a gash to the top of his head, two black eyes and a broken nose, said Mr Sabiston.

Christopher Baker, for the Cooneys, said James, of Cobden Street, was in a good job which he had put at risk by his behaviour.

He said Jacob had stopped going into the town centre since the incident, and looks after his two children while his partner works.

All three men pleaded guilty to affray.