A LANDLORD was left with a punctured lung after St Patrick's Day violence broke out at his pub.

Brothers Dominic Lee and James Lee, of High House Avenue, appeared before Bradford Crown Court to be sentenced for their part in the disorder, which unfolded at the Lane Ends, Eccleshill, on March 17 last year.

Prosecutor Andrew Semple said landlord Shane Wood, a man in his 40s, and his wife had taken over about five months before the incident and that it was not known as a pub which attracted trouble or violence. On the night in question, the pub was particularly busy and Mr Wood was alerted to an incident in the men's toilets.

He went in with his bartender to find the Lee brothers and a third man with a bloodied face. His wife intervened and they were asked to leave.

They refused and said they would not leave until they had finished their drinks. They were told to leave again, but James Lee then punched Mr Wood from behind, causing him to go to the ground.

The brothers then left and disorder followed outside, which included Mr Wood's wife being attacked and her husband intervening. He wrestled James Lee to the ground and began delivering blows, but he himself was kicked and attacked with what is thought to have been pieces of a fence.

Mr Wood had to spend five nights in hospital and was found to have bruising and a collapsed lung. Mr Semple told the court that Mr Wood has increased anxiety because of the attack, feeling a "knot in his stomach" when he hears raised voices in the pub. The court heard he was also at a financial loss as he had to take nine weeks off work.

The judge, Recorder Christopher Knox said the brothers had behaved "appallingly" and had tried to "brazen" it out by letting the matter get all the way to trial before entering guilty pleas to section 20 - wounding inflicting GBH - on Mr Wood.

The court heard Dominic Lee, 25, had a history of violent offences, with previous convictions for affray and battery. Abdul Shakoor, for Dominic Lee, said the violence used was "clearly out of all proportion", but his involvement came when he saw his brother being punched by Mr Wood.

Recorder Knox said there were a number of aggravating factors - Dominic Lee's previous convictions, the fact it happened in a public place and that it happened at night, the affect on the victim and the use of a weapon - and that he could not suspend the sentence. He was handed a 27-month prison sentence.

James Lee, who has no previous convictions, was handed a 21-month sentence, suspended for two years. Recorder Knox slammed his "unpleasant and aggressive behaviour" and said he thought he had been led astray by his brother. "You both behaved disgracefully," he said.

James Lee was also made the subject of a curfew, must carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and 10 days rehabilitation requirement activity and must pay Mr Wood £750 in compensation.