THREE men have been convicted of causing a bar room brawl that saw customers hit with bar stools and led to a Worcester pub being closed down.

Three men pleaded guilty to affray at Worcester Crown Court in connection with violent scenes at the Bush Inn, in St John's, on April 26 this year.

As we have reported, the pub had its licence suspended by police following the incident. It was granted permission to re-open at the end of May, on the condition it did so under new management.

Michael Conry, prosecuting, said Jonathan Shaw, aged 25, of Cannon Street, Red Hill, Worcester, Arron Mornington, 22, of Tudor Way, in Dines Green and Ricky Gorman, 22, of Spencer Road, Dines Green, had gone to The Bush looking for trouble.

Shaw, who was picked out by judge Nicolas Cartwright as the man who started the violence, was jailed for 16 months while the other two men, who were said to have played lesser parts in the affray, escaped jail.

Mr Conry said the trouble began with Michael Cope, a customer in the bar, being punched to the head before being attacked with a bar stool.

As he lay unconscious on the floor, another woman customer was pushed over and knocked out as her head struck a stool. It was fortunate that no-one was seriously injured.

Mark Harries, defending Shaw, said he accepted it was unacceptable and worrying violence, of which he was ashamed. He was unable to explain what had caused him to snap but perhaps it was a remark made to him at the bar.

Shaw surrendered to police three days later and had showed contrition, even sending flowers to the woman who had been injured. He had reached the age of 24 without offending but in recent months there had been a flurry of offences. Shaw had been well educated and was currently taking a Masters degree in sport and had been working as a personal trainer. He was in a stable relationship with a partner.

Charles Hamer, defending Gorman, said his only previous conviction was for flytipping. He had his own business and supported his wife, mother and brother. There were three children. He was fined £1,350.

Nicholas Roberts, defending Mornington, said had served five years in the Army. He was deaf in one ear and his discharge was partially due to exposure to use of heavy weaponry. He had become wayward in recent years but had a misguided sense of loyalty to his co-accused. His five-month prison sentence was suspended for two years and he must undertake a reducing violence programme.

Judge Cartwright said it was worrying that the attacks had taken place in a public house where customers going out for a quiet drink would have been appalled by the violence.

He added on another seven weeks to Shaw's jail sentence for a previous offence of attempting to evade tax (not importing drugs as previously reported).

* We reported how the contract with the former landlord at the Bush — John Rowan — who ran the pub at the time of the fight, was terminated after Worcester City Council's licensing sub-committee agreed to allow the pub to re-open on the condition that Mr Rowan be removed from his position as landlord.

Police said he did "nothing to stop the fight", although Mr Rowan refutes this and said he did everything he could and had been left "disgusted" at his treatment.