TWO brothers have been fined for threatening behaviour following a fracas with police.

Michael and Andrew Milburn were found guilty of public disorder and obstructing police following a trial at Richmond Magistrates' Court, North Yorkshire.

A more serious charge of assaulting a police officer, faced by Andrew Milburn, was dismissed for lack of evidence.

Their younger brother, Trevor, 17, of Chapel Garth, Dalton, near Thirsk, was acquitted of charges of threatening behaviour, obstruction and assault.

The brothers claimed they were kicked and punched by PC John Midgley when he and colleague PC Adrian Robinson approached them in Thirsk in May. They submitted CCTV video footage to support their claim.

Magistrates examined the film twice but made no mention of it when they summed up yesterday.

Andrew Milburn, aged 24, a timber business manager's assistant, of Raymond Post Gate, London, claimed his head had hit the side of a police van, causing him to fall to the ground, where he was sprayed with CS gas.

Michael Milburn, 20, who also lives at Chapel Garth, Dalton, claimed he was sprayed with CS gas and kicked when he asked why he was being arrested.

PC Midgley told the court he had used only necessary force. He told the court that Andrew Milburn had punched him in the stomach.

Andrew Milburn, a father of two, was fined £135 with £150 costs and ordered to pay £100 compensation for damage to PC Midgley's spectacles. Michael Milburn was fined £110 with £150 costs.