Three young men reacted "horrifically" during violence outside a social club which left a man with "catastrophic" injuries.

Carlisle Crown Court heard how an row inside Workington's Trades Hall spilled outside and escalated into shocking scenes on the night of November 12.

Club staff desperately tried to intervene and an innocent bystander was attacked during a brawl which left one man, David Birch, lying face down in his own blood.

Mr Birch suffered a skull fracture with a brain injury, and was comatose for a time in hospital. He has been left needing 24-7 community support.

Details of the incident were outlined at the crown court. In the dock were 20-year-old Nyle Bell, along with Scott Walton and Michael Jenkins, both aged 18.

All three men admitted an affray charge having used what a judge called "excessive self-defence" during the violence.

Wayne Jackson, prosecuting, told of an argument inside the social club. This was seen to involve Mr Birch and another man, and also a group of younger males; the latter were escorted from the premises but stayed nearby.

When the two older men then left the club they yelled abuse at Bell, Jenkins and Walton, who "responded in kind".

Mr Birch was said to have taken a wooden post from the ground. He began to "threaten and wave" it at the three defendants, but was disarmed.

"Matters escalated into a brawl," said Mr Jackson. "Everybody appeared to be fighting each other."

While on the floor Mr Birch was repeatedly punched in the face by an "unidentified younger male".

Lying on the ground "as his own blood pooled around him", Mr Birch was then attacked by Bell, who struck him three times - to the legs, back and shoulder - with the wooden post.

"The attack came to an end when the other defendants came over and pulled him off," said Mr Jackson.

Mitigation was given in court by lawyers representing the three young men.

Walton, of Windsor Road, and Bell, of Dean Street, both Workington, were given 15-month custodial sentences which were suspended for two years. Jenkins, of Irish Street, Whitehaven, had an 18-month term suspended.

Bell and Jenkins were said to have spent six months in custody on remand.

All three men were told to complete unpaid work and rehabilitation requirements.

Judge Peter Davies acknowledged the trio had not started the trouble, but told them: "You completed it. You completed it excessively; completed it disproportionately; and completed it aggressively and horrifically. There is no other way to describe it."

Jenkins' sentence also reflected his role in a separate late night incident in Whitehaven last July.

During that, victim Aaron Wilson had lager stolen from him as he walked home just after midnight. He was robbed of a tobacco tin and left bruised across his body having been kicked and punched. Mr Wilson told police the attack duration "felt like an eternity".

Jenkins and a 17-year-old youth admitted an actual bodily harm assault charge, while David Shakir, 19, of Bowness Road, Whitehaven, admitted robbery.

All three pleaded guilty to theft, as did Kierran Hughes, 18, of Hilltop Road, Whitehaven.

Shakir was sent to custody for 12 months; Hughes received a 12-month conditional discharge and £300 fine; and the 17-year-old was given an 18-month youth referral order and unpaid work.