THREE young men who started fighting with security guards at a Bury cinema escaped a jail sentence.

Marc Britton was with his friends Liam Palmieri and Ryan Madeley when their rowdiness caused security guards to approach them.

Britton was abusive and aggressive to the guards who were trying to eject him from the cinema complex. Palmieri tried to calm Britton down but when Madeley arrived he flicked a cigarette at Britton and the pair began fighting with each other.

All three men received community punishment orders and two were ordered to pay prosecution costs when thney appeared at Bolton Crown Court for sentence.

Britton, aged 19, of Canterbury Drive, Bury, and Palmieri, aged 20, of Litchfield Drive, Bury, admitted affray and Madeley, aged 18, of Orwell Close, Bury, admitted an offence under the Public Order Act. Britton also admitted damaging property and was was sentenced to a 100 hour Community Punishment Order and a two year Community Rehabilitation Order with a condition he attends the Think First Programme.

Palmieri was sentenced to an 80 hour Community Punishment Order and ordered to pay £150 towards prosecution costs. Madeley, who played a lesser role, was sentenced to a 40 hour Community Punishment Order and ordered to pay £150 towards court costs.

The court heard the three had been at the Warner cinema complex last August. After being asked to leave by security men, Britton and Palmieri started fighting each other. eventually the three started walking away but Britton went on to kick a car causing £200 worth of damage and was detained by guards.

Madeley and Palmieri tried to stop the guards from holding onto Britton who was struggling violently. A security guard was kicked in the leg and had his trousers ripped.

Britton told police he had drunk five or six pints of lager and could not remember much about the incident. Both Palmieri and Madeley admitted being drunk and said they went to help their friend.

Defending Maisie Burke said all three wished to apologise for their behaviour; Madeley and Palmieri both had jobs and Britton was the sole carer for his frail grandmother.

Recorder Jonathan Goldberg QC said their behaviour had been: "loutish and mindlessly violent which is the curse of our age."