Two men involved in a fracas outside a Great Leighs pub have been told by a judge they missed prison "by a very short head."

Simon Collins and Spencer Carrington, both 27, were involved in trouble at the St Anne's Castle pub on April 21, a court heard yesterday.

Collins, from Boreham Road, Great Leighs, shouted abuse at another man in the pub and squared up to him before he was thrown out, Chelmsford Crown Court was told.

His friend Carrington, from Anderson Avenue, Chelmsford, followed him outside and both men picked up umbrella poles from tables outside.

Other pub customers tried to take the poles from them but in the fracas that followed, everyone involved received injuries, Roslayne Mandil-Wade, prosecuting, said.

In court, the two men admitted charges of damaging property and using threatening behaviour. They were ordered to do 180 hours' community service each.

Carrington was also told to pay £68 compensation to the pub landlord.

Judge Peter Greenwood told them: "You had better steer clear of trouble in the future or you will go straight inside."

Gareth Hughes, mitigating, said it was anti-social and unacceptable behaviour.

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