THE only thing missing from the "traditional pub brawl" that broke out in Old Town last month was the Benny Hill soundtrack, magistrates have heard.

On Wednesday morning 33-year-old Luke Quince pleaded guilty to four counts of assault by beating while Alex Rigley, 27, pleaded guilty to the same charge of beating three of the same victims during the incident that unfolded on July 14.

Quince, of White Eagle Road, admitted assaulting three men and a woman in the alcohol-fuelled brawl, while Rigley, of Mudford Road, Yeovil, also admitted assaulting the same three men when the pair came before the bench at Swindon Magistrates' Court on Wednesday morning.

Crown prosecutor Nick Barr told the magistrates that police had been called to the Victoria pub on Victoria Road amid reports of a fight, which had seen both men punch three male victims while Quince had also assaulted a woman in the middle of the road outside the pub.

Defending the pair, Mark Glendenning told the court that all was missing from the "good old fashioned pub punch up" was a Benny Hill soundtrack in the background.

He explained that the disagreement had broken out after one of the complainant's had taken the Mickey out of his clients' dancing.

"Both men suffered cuts and bruises themselves as a result," he said. "They accept that they effectively started it and are responsible for it. There are certainly a lot of discrepancies but also some common factors. It was essentially an old fashioned pub brawl where everyone was throwing punches and kicking out at each other."

Sentencing them, chairman of the bench Alison Auvray said: "Both of you are aware this wasn't an edifying spectacle, I am sure."

She added that the assaults were aggravated by the fact that there were repeated punches. She ordered that Rigley carry out 40 hours of unpaid work as part of a 12 month community order. He must also pay £85 Crown Prosecution Service costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Sentencing Quince she said the bench had taken into account that he had used a head butt as part of the assault, which saw them also impose a 12 month community order, but with 80 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay court costs of £85 and an £85 victim surcharge.

Ms Auvray added: "Because this was quite clearly a melee it is impossible to say who did what to whom, so we do not feel that compensation is suitable."