FOUR men have been jailed after a brawl outside a Southampton lapdancing club.

The group were involved in the fracas with two men outside strip club For Your Eyes Only in Southampton High Street.

One of the defendants, Billy Haynes, 24, was seen on CCTV swinging a pole at one of the men during the incident, on January 20.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court, all four men pleaded guilty to affray.

Maximus Doherty, 26, of Fairfield, Christchurch, Anthony Allen, 27, of Stour Road, Christchurch, Daniel Jones, 22, of Tuckton Road, Bournemouth, and Billy Haynes, 24, of HMP Guys Marsh, in Dorset, were sentenced to 12 months in prison each.

A fifth defendant failed to appear at Southampton Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on October 25 and an arrest warrant was issued.Daily Echo:

Haynes’ sentence will run consecutively to his four year sentence for a knife attack in Bournemouth in April – for which he was sentenced in August this year.

That incident, which also involved Allen, took place outside nightclub Camel in Old Christchurch Road on April 14.

The victim was spotted by Allen, who had been involved in a row with the same victim outside nightclub Truth in December 2017.

Allen and the victim were captured on the club’s CCTV cameras shouting at each other before Allen, who was with a group of male friends, suddenly threw a punch.

At the same time, Haynes lunged towards the victim’s face while holding a small knife.

Haynes missed the initial blow as the victim reeled away, but quickly lashed out again, catching the younger man under the arm.

The victim was unaware he was hurt and stayed out dancing with friends until the early hours of the morning.

On that occasion, Haynes was sentenced to four years in prison after admitted wounding with intent and possessing a knife in a public place.

Allen admitted assaulting the victim by beating him during an appearance at Poole Magistrates’ Court in May.

He was sentenced to an 18-month conditional discharge, under which he was ordered to pay the victim £50 compensation.