THREE men involved in a pub brawl walked free from court after a judge told them he wanted to save taxpayers the expense of holding them in jail.

Judge Michael Taylor said the three would be likely to lose their jobs and the public would then have to fund their benefits when they were released.

Handing suspended jail sentences to Mark Blackburn, Darren Beeforth and Stephen Simpson, he said: “None of you will get the opportunity again.”

The men were involved in a fracas between rival Leeds United and Middlesbrough football fans, Teesside Crown Court was told yesterday.

Glasses were hurled and pool cues were used in the disturbance at the Thomas Crabtree pub in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, on September 2, last year.

Blackburn, from Middlesbrough, and Simpson, from nearby Redcar, were arrested after being identified from security camera footage.

Beeforth, from Harrogate, was recognised by police, but refused to answer questions when interviewed about his involvement.

The other two men blamed the locals for starting the trouble by striking out with cues and throwing glasses, but accepted they reacted badly.

Blackburn also had to be dealt with for causing damage to a friend’s home in a drunken wrecking spree when he was armed with a knife.

He was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, with Probation Service supervision and 120 hours of unpaid community work.

Judge Taylor imposed a nine-month jail term, suspended for two years, with supervision and 100 hours of work on the other two men.

He said: “If I lock you up, we will have to pay to keep you in prison, and when you get out, we will have to pay your benefits.

It is that, and only that, that stops me locking you up today.”

The court heard that Beeforth, 26, is an apprentice bricklayer while Blackburn, 23, and Simpson, 25, are doorto- door salesmen.

Robert Mochrie, for Blackburn, of Rowarth Road, Middlesbrough, said too much alcohol was a common thread in his offending.

Simon Kealey, said his client, Beeforth, of Woodfield Road, Harrogate, hoped to start college soon as part of his apprenticeship.

Richard Herrmann, said Simpson, of Mersey Road, Redcar, saw red after a thrown glass smashed behind his head.