A gatecrasher turned a wedding party into a wild west brawl, a court heard yesterday.

David and Patricia Andrews' big day was ruined when uninvited guest Stephen Scaife was asked to leave and violence erupted at the function, said Simon Hickey, prosecuting, at York Crown Court.

The wedding party understood the room at the Stonebeck pub in Jennyfields, Harrogate, was for invited guests only, but Scaife, 32, wandered in, said Mr Hickey.

The bride and groom and several guests took exception to the unwanted gatecrasher.

Mr Hickey said Scaife, of Norwich Drive, Jennyfields, Harrogate, shoved people as things got out of hand. The police were called to calm things down and several people were arrested.

It was later discovered the landlord had failed to designate the room as private, said Mr Hickey.

Scaife told police he accepted he went too far when tempers flared.

His solicitor, Richard Mansell, said Scaife should have just walked away but instead he protested.

He said: "A wild west-style bar room brawl then erupted and Scaife had his shirt ripped off."

Scaife pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour under the Public Order Act and was given a conditional discharge in the sum of £250 to be of good behaviour for 12 months.