A SOUTHAMPTON landlord was attacked during a brawl at a city pub, a court heard.

Three people were spared an immediate prison sentence when they appeared in court over violence at the Richmond Inn.

Trouble started at the Portswood pub when barred customer Kay Alexander was refused service and became abusive when asked to leave.

Prosecutor Ed Elton described how she grabbed an 18in-high Christmas tree, which landlord John Green took off her, before she hit him about ten times on the head and in the chest area with clenched fists.

“She was screaming and hysterical,” said Mr Elton, who told Southampton Crown Court how her partner William Willis then grabbed Mr Green around the neck with both hands before pushing him on to a table, which collapsed.

Willis landed on top of him and they struggled on the floor before other customers pulled them apart.

Dennis Edwards, a friend of the landlord, was then punched in the face by another man, Kevin Pratt, and suffered a fractured cheekbone.

Alexander, 44, Willis, 50, and Pratt, 37, all of Bluebell Road, Bassett, admitted affray.

Andy Houston, defending Alexander, said the incident, which happened about nine months ago, had been “a wake-up call” and she had been receiving psychiatric help for her problems.

She had also not drunk since Christmas.

Recorder Michael Parroy QC said he saw no reason why he should differentiate in terms of sentence by giving them each a 16-month suspended sentence.

Alexander was also given two years' supervision and a six-month curfew.

Her co-accused were told they would carry out 150 hours of community service.

Willis was ordered to pay Mr Green £1,000 compensation and Pratt was ordered to pay a similar sum to Mr Edwards.

The court heard Willis admitted affray because the landlord had been manhandling his partner and he intervened to stop him.

Pratt pleaded guilty on the basis that he wrongly thought Mr Edwards had knocked into his wife.