A SOLDIER who was kicked out of the army for his part in a street brawl was yesterday jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Dean Thornton was found guilty of three counts of causing actual bodily harm, one of inflicting grievous bodily harm, assault and affray after a trial in June.

The 19-year-old appeared in court yesterday with fellow attacker Deborah Stokes, 34. She was also sentenced after pleading guilty to causing an affray.

Stokes was given a two-year community rehabilitation order and ordered to pay compensation of £50 and £250 to two of her victims.

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox, QC, told the pair: "You both acted in a disgracefully violent way, first of all in the home of someone else and then permitting your violence to spill out into the public road."

Teesside Crown Court was told that trouble erupted on November 27 last year in Hazelbank, Coulby Newham, at the home of Maureen Burke, the mother of Thornton's girlfriend.

Thornton and Stokes joined other women at the house and drank alcohol.

Shortly after midnight, an argument flared, and the burly former Green Howard joined in by striking one of the women in the ribs.

A child fled from the house and when a neighbour turned up on the doorstep to try to calm the situation, he was punched by Thornton and suffered a fractured eye socket and a fractured cheek.

The man's wife was either headbutted or punched and then pinned to the ground by Stokes.

Another neighbour was punched to the ground and repeatedly kicked by Thornton.

Thornton and Stokes, both from Saxonfield, Coulby Newham, were arrested and admitted being at the scene but denied taking part in the violence.

Cath Fagan, for Thornton, said he accepted he would have to go to prison.

She added that, while he was on remand after being convicted, he spent time thinking of his wasted promise as a soldier.

"It is clear he is able now, after a period of reflection, to identify with the distress and pain caused to the victims of these offences."

Robin Turton, for Stokes, said: "Were it not for the fact that she was in drink, she would have had the sense to withdraw and go home. Because she was in drink, she got herself involved in a situation she bitterly regrets."