TROUBLE flared at a pub that resulted in a customer being hit on the back of the head with a bottle. Tom Burton was with his girlfriend in the Hopbine, Biggleswade, on a Friday night when he was confronted by Steven Duroe who said: Have you got a problem

TROUBLE flared at a pub that resulted in a customer being hit on the back of the head with a bottle.

Tom Burton was with his girlfriend in the Hopbine, Biggleswade, on a Friday night when he was confronted by Steven Duroe who said: "Have you got a problem?"

Luton Crown Court heard that Duroe's brother Matthew accused Mr Burton of staring at Steven.

When Mr Burton said he did not want any trouble Matthew Duroe replied, "Too late" and grabbed and struck him.

Prosecutor Matthew Kennedy said that in the trouble that followed Christine Smith hit Mr Burton's girlfriend Amy Barford and Azeem Ward twice hit another customer, Greg Davies.

The Duroes were taken out of the pub, but Steven returned and saw Mr Burton who was crouching over his girlfriend. He hit him on the back of his head with a bottle.

Steven Duroe, 18, of Drove Road, Matthew Duroe, 24, of High Street, Azeem Ward, 26, of Clover Close, and Christine Smith, 19, of Abraham Road, all Biggleswade, appeared for sentence on Friday having pleaded guilty to causing an affray on November 4 last year. Steven Duroe had also admitted wounding Mr Burton.

Defence barrister Christine O'Connor said Steven Duroe had downed six pints of lager, cocktails, cocaine and three ecstasy tablets. She said he had little recollection of what happened, but had only struck a single blow.

Miss O'Connor said Matthew Duroe had also taken alcohol, ecstasy and cocaine and only became involved because he believed his younger brother was in danger.

For Christine Smith, Adrian Higgins said she was of previous good character and was disgusted by her behaviour that night. She was drunk and had taken cocaine. She no longer goes out in public, he added.

Gavin Irwin, for Ward, said he was of previous good character and had lost his job as a security guard after the company he worked for learned of his guilty plea.

Judge Barbara Mensah told the defendants: "This was a serious public disorder."

She described Steven Duroe's attack with the bottle as "disgraceful, nasty violence." She sentenced him to 12 months custody.

The other three defendants were each sentenced to four months suspended for 12 months with a two-month night time curfew. They must also complete 60 hours unpaid work.

Smith must pay £50 compensation to Amy Barford, Matthew Duroe £50 to Tom Burton and Ward £50 to Greg Davies.