A man who rushed to the aid of his girlfriend after she was attacked on a night out by an MOD physical trainer has been spared jail.

Lucy Dullea and Jordan Lane had been out drinking in Old Town on October 6, 2018, when they were refused entry from Wood Street karaoke club Star Bar.

Swindon Crown Court heard it was around 2am when Paul Sheeran, 34, who was outside Star Bar, allegedly muttered to bouncers that he would “sort them out himself and smash them up”.

He went over to the couple, flexing his biceps and, according to her lawyer, made a lewd remark to Dullea. She took exception to the comment and slapped him.

The ensuing brawl was captured on CCTV and described in court by prosecutor Alec Williams.

Sheeran moved away and pulled out his mobile phone, pointing it towards Dullea’s group.

Mr Williams said: “This seems to exercise Miss Dullea who is seen to run towards him and try to grab the phone from him.

“While he’s in the doorway he’s then approached by Miss Dullea and is seen to throw a punch at her which seemingly connects.

“Mr Lane approaches and begins to fight with Mr Sheeran. What happens then is best described as a mêlée.” Dullea and Sheeran brawled on the floor. Lane landed a kick to or near the aggressor’s head.

Bouncers stepped in to separate the group, but not long afterwards Sheeran returned to the group and threw a punch at a second man, Olly Rouse-McCue.

Sheeran was finally restrained and door staff were able to stop the brawling group.

The MOD physical trainer sustained a cut to his nose, although the court heard it had not been possible to ascertain the severity of the injury because he had not allowed his medical records to be shared.

Mr Williams said there was an argument that Sheeran had been attacked by a group, although the lawyer added: “I accept the counter point - Mr Sheeran has been to some degree the author of his own misfortune.”

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Wood Street Picture: DAVE COX

Dullea, 24, of Okus Road, and Lane, 25, of Castleton Road, Middleleaze, pleaded guilty to affray.

Rob Ross, for Lane, said his client was in work and had been caring for his poorly mother during the coronavirus lockdown. He accepted that he had in the past shown a lack of maturity. He had always admitted what he had done was wrong and was remorseful.

Emma Handslip, for Dullea, said her client was horrified when she watched the CCTV footage of the brawl. She was in work, although had been furloughed by her employers. She was extremely sorry for her actions.

Lane had a longer criminal record, including a conviction for being drunk and disorderly in October 2019. Dullea had convictions for a battery and for drink driving. In 2017, both were convicted of battery after an assault on a taxi driver after a night out.

Judge Peter Crabtree described the affray matter as “serious, essentially lager-lout offences”.

He added: “It happened in a busy street, in town, at a stage where there were people about, close to public houses. Who know what might have happened if others had not got involved?”

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Swindon Crown Court

Sentencing Lane to 10 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years, he said: “It’s clear that today an immediate custodial sentence would have a significant detrimental impact on your mother. It’s also clear that probation believe they can work with you to rehabilitate you.” He must do 120 hours of unpaid work, 25 rehabilitation activity days and abide by a five month curfew.

Dullea received an 18 month community order and complete 25 rehabilitation activity days and 60 hours of unpaid work. She was given a four month curfew.

Sheeran was sentenced last December to a 12 month community order. He denied affray but admitted a lesser public order offence on the day of his trial.