A man convicted over a pub brawl that spilled into a street was told any further offending in the New Year will lead to prison, no matter how minor the crime.

The warning was issued to defendant Dale Bruce, who appeared at Durham Crown Court shortly before Christmas for sentence for a public order offence arising from a fight with another man at the Chesters pub, in Chester-le-Street.

Although the confrontation was said to have begun inside the Front Street premises, the court heard it spilled outside, where members of the public were present, at 3pm on Easter Sunday, April 17.

David Robinson-Young, prosecuting, said Bruce took off his jacket and shirt and was seen trying to throw punches while the other man took hold of him, before they rolled to the ground.

Police were called and soon arrived on scene to arrest both men.

Read more: Man swerved van from side to side as woman hung onto door

Bruce, of Wimbledon Walk, in Chester-le-Street, was convicted of a public order offence when he appeared before magistrates in November.

The case was sent for sentence to the crown court, as it put him in breach of a suspended prison term imposed there for dangerous driving and affray, in September 2021.

Mr Robinson-Young said the defendant’s 14 convictions for 21 offences, dating back to 2005, include previous public order incidents.

Katie Spence, in mitigation, told the sentencing hearing: “It was a brawl that went out into the street, in which he took his top off and wanted to continue to fight.”

But she said her client was dragged into the street and she claimed the other man attempted to kick him in the head.

“I can’t say what happened at the beginning of the fight in the pub.

“He accepts he should have left and should not have continued as he did.

“He was a roofer and the other man was a roofer. There had been a short history and he wanted to sort it out as they would be working at the same site in future.

“The incident would have been unpleasant to witness as you might imagine.”

Read more: Victim asked defendant for bottle opener outside Peterlee pub prior to assault

But she said that while he accepts it put him in breach of the suspended sentence order, the defendant had responded well to the unpaid work and probation rehabilitation elements of that sentence.

“He’s working with the Probation Service and it’s something that is not supposed to be a short-term fix.

“He’s also engaging with a charity which has helped him with the drug and alcohol misuse which he attributes as the root cause of his offending.”

Miss Spence added that the defendant has new employment lined up, but his focus has been to resolve his other issues.

“He says he’s been trying his best and knows he has done wrong, but the new offence is less serious than the original one for which he received his suspended sentence.”

Judge James Adkin told Bruce to his credit he has completed the work with the Probation Service following the previous offence.

Read next:

               Quartet jailed in separate cases at Durham Crown Court recently

               County Durham man branded 'dangerous' offender after assaults on partner

               Teen launched attack on man outside Durham Claypath pizza shop

If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here

“So, I’m prepared to turn back from an immediate sentence.”

He ordered the defendant to perform a further 40-hours’ unpair work within six months and attend 30 more rehabilitation activity days, plus a Probation Service programme.

But Judge Adkin added: “If we meet again, no matter how minor the offence, it will be prison.”