A MAN who took part in a running battle of drunken violence in the town centre has been given a chance, after he told a judge he had given up alcohol.

Aaron Gleed took off his belt to use it as a weapon when he was involved in an incident which started outside a lap-dancing bar in the town centre.

But after hearing the burly 25-year-old, who has a history of violence, was now on the wagon, the judge handed him a suspended sentence.

Tessa Hingston, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court the incident started in Fleet Street on June 6 last year.

“A member of door staff at Fantasy nightclub made a telephone call to police about a disorder which was taking place outside,” she said.

“By the time the police arrived it was all over, but when CCTV was viewed it was apparent what was going on.”

She said there were two groups of people in the street, with Gleed in one, and Mark Dennis in the other.

After a lot of posturing, and being egged on by their friends, both men are seen to take off their belts as they move along the road.

Miss Hingston said: “The doorman said the behaviour was shocking. Having seen the CCTV, I concur. Both are using belts, flailing the buckle end.”

She said the violence went on for about 20 minutes with the men also grappling and trying to punch each other.

Gleed, of Frobisher Drive, Walcot, pleaded guilty to affray. Dennis was not prosecuted as he received a lengthy jail term for other matters soon after.

Rob Ross, defending, said: “He can’t remember anything. He had been drinking all day and in his own words, he was absolutely hammered.

“He took his belt off as Dennis took his off and was clearly going to hit him. He then got involved in a fist fight with Mr Dennis.”

He added: “All the offending can be put down to over indulgence in alcohol. He was drunk. He then gets a custodial sentence for breaching a community order given in late June. He served a number of weeks in custody.

“I have to say over all the years I have dealt with Aaron Gleed, after he had come out of prison was the first time I had had a conversation with him in years when he wasn’t smelling of alcohol.

“He was also able to say he was working. He is a father. He had just indicated that he had decided to stop drinking. He is quite robust in that view.”

Passing sentence, Judge Peter Blair QC said: “Not only are you a nuisance when drunk and quite frightening, I imagine, to people having fun on a night out, but you are doing yourself a disservice.

“You’ve ended up coming back before the court. I get the impression now the shock of the prison sentence you got at the end of last year had led to a bit of a change about things.

“You need to provide a bit of give so far as addressing your quick temper and I am giving you a suspended sentence.”

He imposed a four-month jail term suspended for 18 months, put him under supervision for a year and on a night time curfew for three months.