FOUR men have been jailed for playing their part in a brawl outside a nightclub.

But the judge rejected the allegation that the Leigh men had launched a pre-meditated attack on the doormen at Barbarella's bar in the town.

In the dock at Liverpool Crown Court were Christian Henry, Ian Rawson, David Higgins and Christopher Pemberton. Henry was convicted of violent disorder after a trial earlier this month and the others had pleaded guilty.

Henry, aged 28, of Larch Road, was jailed for 12 months; Rawson, aged 32, of Willow Crescent, received nine months plus three months consecutive for possessing an air rifle while prohibited from doing so, and Higgins and Pemberton both received nine months.

The judge said that 22-year-old Pemberton, of Liza Street, had disarmed a doorman who had a baton and then wielded it himself and was also seen holding a bottle. Pemberton, who has numerous previous convictions, has been recalled to continue a prison sentence imposed in 2000 for being involved in the fight. Mr Justice Keith ordered that he serve four months of that sentence to run concurrently with the nine months for the violent disorder.

Higgins, aged 30, of Tennyson Avenue, was seen in CCTV footage fighting with at least one doorman in the King Street premises and had admitted punching one in the face.

Henry had tried to take a baton off doorman Anthony James but had not wounded him with it. He had denied all allegations, and was cleared of wounding Mr James with intent.

The brawl broke out shortly before closing time on August 18 last year.