TWO men involved in a "terrifying attack" outside a York pub during the World Cup last year were sentenced to more than three years imprisonment between them.

Richard Jones, aged 22, from Carter Avenue, Heworth, was sentenced to two years in prison by the Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman, at York Crown Court yesterday

John Bell, aged 30, from James Street caravan site, was sentenced to 15 months.

The pair had previously pleaded guilty to affray.

The two men were accused of being involved in what one witnessed described as a terrifying attack outside the Cock And Bottle pub in Skeldergate on June 15 last year.

The court heard how the two men had gone into the pub with a group of others.

Pub doorman Stephen Smith feared there would be trouble because of an earlier argument with one member of the group.

The doorman decided to leave and was followed by the group. Jones started arguing with him, then punched him, and he fell to the floor.

Two customers went outside to help Mr Smith; one of them was punched in the face by Bell. He suffered a broken jaw and lost two teeth.

During the fighting another customer was hit and was left unconscious. Mr Smith suffered damage to soft tissue.

The court hear Jones had 12 other convictions for violent offences and Bell had been struggling with a drug addiction from which he was now recovering.

In sentencing the two men Judge Hoffman said he gave them credit for pleading guilty.

He said: "Bell, you are 30 years old and have a number of convictions, but this is your first for violence.

"Jones, you have 12 convictions, all for violence, and that makes your position worse.

"You both became involved in an argument that was nothing to do with you.

"Your parts have to be seen in the context of the whole affair which was very serious, people were injured and incident had been described as terrifying."

Updated: 14:10 Friday, June 27, 2003