Nelson men involved in Burnley nightclub fracas

The gang, Gediminas Abramovas, Aurimas Stanevicius, Deivydas Klimas and Tomas Skorkovas, started the violence when one of their number was thrown out of Bar Code after falling asleep, Burnley Crown Court was told.

In the melee that followed, which was captured on CCTV, doorman Nick Webb was attacked and another doorman, Adam El Hashan, was also injured. One bouncer, who had worked on doors for 10 years, was to tell police it was the worst violence he had ever seen.

The defendants, all Lithuanians living in Nelson, all admitted affray. Abramovas (21), of Hendon Road, Stanevicius (22), of Rigby Street, Klimas (24), of Barkerhouse Road, and Skorkovas (22), of Charles Street, were each given six months in jail, suspended for two years, with 180 hours unpaid work. They must all pay £100 costs. All except Klimas, who has recently lost his job, are working.

Miss Silvia Dacre (prosecuting) said the incident lasted five minutes and the most serious part was the assault on Mr Webb. He suffered badly bruised ribs and a swollen hand. Mr El Hashan received similar injuries.

The hearing was told none of the defendants had a criminal record, except Stanevicius, who had been deported after being given a suspended prison term, but had then entered the UK again, as was his right as an EU citizen.

Sentencing, Recorder David Williams said the fracas was unpleasant to say the least, but there were no serious injuries, and crucially, no weapons were used.