TWO men and a woman from Malvern who attacked a couple in front of their five-year-old son have been sentenced at crown court.

Matthew Jay, Robert Jay and Emma Timbrell were involved in an assault on Craig and Jodie Hayter in the beer garden at the Sun Inn, Cowleigh Road, Mal-vern, last July.

At Worcester Crown Court, 21-year-old Matthew Jay was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 40 hours of unpaid work, 26-year-old Robert Jay received a 26-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months and was ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work, and Timbrell, also 26, was given a 12-month community order with 100 hours unpaid work.

Mr and Mrs Hayter suffered cuts and bruises during the fracas on July 1, and Mrs Hayter was knocked out.

Jason Aris, prosecuting, told the court the assault took place in front of the Hayters' five-year-old son and started when Robert Jay threw a pint glass at the pub manager's car.

"Jodie Hayter took exception to this," he said. "She made a comment to the people she was sitting with but this was overheard by these defendants.

Timbrell, of Meadowsweet Court, Malvern, hit Mr Hayter with a pint glass in her hand.

Matthew Jay, of Lavender Walk, Malvern, hit Mr Hayter once, and Robert Jay, of Cowleigh Road, Malvern, ended up kicking Mrs Hayter in the face, knocking her out.

Timbrell admitted a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on Mr Hayter, Matthew Jay admitted a charge of common assault on Mr Hayter and Robert Jay admitted a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on Mrs Hayter.

Robert Jay's barrister John Hodgkinson said the kick was not intentional. Adam Western, for Matthew Jones, said his client played a minor part in the assault.

Blondelle Thompson told the court that Timbrell regretted her actions.