Four thugs have avoided jail sentences for a violent incident involving a group of soldiers in fancy dress on a stag night.

CCTV of the incident showed Peter Pan and a priest under attack outside the Tap and Tin pub in Chatham.

Ely Ripley, 22, of Ansom Close, Chatham, Brian Cheeseman, 22, Michael Warren, 21, both of Fort Pitt Street, Chatham, and Christopher Spooner, 29, of Mill Road, Gillingham, all admitted violent disorder.

Warren was sentenced to 44 weeks imprisonment suspended for two years and Ripley, Cheeseman and Spooner to 36 weeks suspended for two years.

All were ordered to complete 180 hours community payback and each pay victim Roy Akers £100 compensation. They will also be subject to a four-month curfew.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the squaddies were enjoying the stag night in the early hours of January 31 last year.

Simon Taylor, prosecuting, said Mr Akers was dressed as Peter Pan and Adam Dixon as a priest.

Ripley approached the soldiers, took off his coat and threw a punch at Mr Dixon. The others joined in with kicks and punches.

Mr Taylor said Mr Akers suffered cuts and bruises. Ripley ended up with three fractures to his right wrist.

Katrina Jamieson, for Warren, said there had been “an awful lot of drinking that night”. Warren, father of a girl, aged nine months, was appalled by his own behaviour.

Judge Philip Statman told Miss Jamieson: “He doesn’t have to drink, he has a choice. He doesn’t have to get excessively drunk.”

John Fitzgerald, for Ripley, said CCTV film of the incident showed “graphic unattractive behaviour”.

Ripley, he said, snapped and lost control because of abuse from the soldiers about him being from a travelling background.

Mr Fitzgerald said Ripley’s girlfriend was 18 weeks pregnant with his first child.
Tom Stern, for Cheeseman, said the incident happened on his client’s 21st birthday. He went out to celebrate with his girlfriend and became embroiled in the violence.

The judge said the soldiers had used their professional training to good effect and did not try to fight back.