Drunken young men took part in violence in Bingley in which innocent members of the public were punched and kicked, a Court heard today.

Jamie Masters, 20, and 19-year-olds Robert Ambler and Benjamin Haigh, had been celebrating a birthday and were drunk, Bradford Crown Court was told.

They were in a rowdy group outside Porky’s nightclub, where they had been refused entry, at 12.30am on March 27 last year, said prosecutor Duncan Ritchie.

Mr Ritchie said Masters took offence to two men and swung a punch at one of them, Josh Gidley. The blow missed but sparked disorder during which Ambler delivered blows to Mr Gidley before he went to the ground.

Ambler appeared to kick towards him, while Haigh punched the victim on the ground. Two unidentified men were also involved in the violence.

Masters stood nearby but punched another person to the ground. Haigh also thumped an unknown man and Ambler confronted another man. Mr Gidley suffered a cut below his eye.

The judge, Recorder Dean Kershaw, said the three, who all pleaded guilty to affray, had involved themselves in unnecessary violence.

He told Masters, of Parkwood Street, Keighley, who had previous convictions for common assault and battery, he had started the violence. He sentenced him to seven months youth custody for the affray, with a consecutive four months for breaching a suspended sentence.

Recorder Kershaw told Ambler and Haigh they had used gratuitous violence.

Stephen Wood, for Ambler, of Parkwood Street, Keighley, said his client recognised drink had played a role and had gone for counselling. He had got a job and was highly thought of.

Haigh, of Devonshire Street, Highfield, Keighley, had become involved in violence which was out of character, said his barrister Gerald Hendron.

Recorder Kershaw gave Ambler nine months youth custody suspended for two years and ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

Haigh was given a seven-month sentence suspended for two years, with 100 hours unpaid work. Both must pay £200 compensation.Thomas Rushbrook, for Masters, said that after the initial punch, he distanced himself from what happened.