THREE men who launched a violent assault at a town centre nightclub, leaving their victim needing an operation on his broken nose, have escaped jail sentences.

Lee O’Brien, Dean O’Brien and Lee Jordan set upon Craig Thompson after he had been a ‘nuisance’ in The Pink Rooms, in Victoria Road.

While 20-year-old Dean started the violence by punching him, Lee O’Brien, 21, admitted kicking him when he was down and Jordan, 26, accepted he had him in a head lock.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that the attack took place in the early hours of May 19.

He said Mr Thompson ‘may well have been drunk’ and making a nuisance of himself but did not deserve what happened to him.

Dean O’Brien punched him and he was then knocked to the ground where he was kicked.

As a result of the attack he suffered a broken nose which needed an operation.

Mr Meeke said while the defendants admitted taking part in the assault they accepted ‘something, but not all’ of what was alleged.

Lee O’Brien and Jordan, both of Kimberley Road, Park South, admitted actual bodily harm.

Dean O’Brien, of Rolleston Street, admitted common assault.

Paul Trotman, defending, said Lee O’Brien had just started a job as a warehouseman for JB Global and had recently become a father.

He said Lee was only involved towards the end of the incident, although he accepted he kicked the man while he was on the ground.

Mr Trotman, for Dean O’Brien, said his client admitted a lesser charge and was less involved than the other two.

Con Fernandes, for Jordan, said he had tried to take the victim into a corner to avoid trouble but then got involved in the violence.

Judge Douglas Field said: “I am sure you know the court takes a dim view of this sort of disorder in the area of the town where we have pubs and clubs in the early hours of the morning.”

He sentenced Dean O’Brien to a one-year community order with 120 hours of unpaid work.

He imposed four-month jail terms suspended for a year with 150 hours of unpaid work and £150 compensation on the other two and told Jordan he must also be under the supervision of probation for 12 months and alcohol treatment.