David Stockton and Michael McDonnell in King's Head pub fight

Fighting erupted in the King's Head after a rowdy 40th birthday party was shut down, with a stepdad and stepson then attacking pub staff and customers.

But the pair, David Stockton and Michael McDonnell, will not face immediate jail sentences over the incident.

Michael McDonnell and David Stockton outside Liverpool Crown Court

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Tuesday, March 19, that a birthday party taking place in the Winwick Street pub's function room on a Saturday evening in March last year had to be closed following a disturbance.

A number of attendees, including pub regular McDonnell, were ejected from the premises.

But the 55-year-old, of Cobden Street in Orford, returned to the pub around half an hour later and began arguing with bouncers.

When he was refused entry, McDonnell told the doorman: "I like you and I've got nothing against you, but my sons are going to come after you."

Stockton, of Watkin Street in Orford, had been drinking elsewhere in the town centre when he received a phone call alerting him to the incident.

After the 34-year-old arrived at the King's Head, witnesses heard a man shout: "You're a dead man walking, you're a f***ing dead man."

The King's Head - picture by Google Maps

The defendants forced entry to the pub, with dad-of-three McDonnell throwing a punch at the landlord.

Electrician Stockton then punched a drinker who was attempting to defuse the situation in the face.

His victim fell to the floor and hit his head on a concrete pillar, leaving him unconscious for 10 minutes.

The man suffered a 6cm laceration to the back of his head, while three separate bleeds on the brain were later revealed by a CT scan - leading to him spending four days in hospital.

Both defendants left the pub and went home, but later handed themselves into the police.

A statement on behalf of the seriously injured victim was read out to court.

Liverpool Crown Court

He had returned to Warrington by rail after watching Liverpool FC match at Anfield, departing the train at Central Station and waiting in the pub on his own while the taxi queue outside quietened down.

Since the incident - which came three weeks after his dad had died, and was captured on CCTV which was played to the court - he has suffered from anxiety and a loss of confidence, while he remembers nothing 30 minutes before the attack or two hours afterwards.

The victim's statement added: "The question I'd like to ask is, why me?

"I was in the pub waiting for a taxi, I was just on my way home from a football match."

Stockton, who has no previous convictions and had drunk four pints of lager before attending the King's Head, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm and affray.

Unemployed McDonnell had been drinking beer and shots since 4pm, and described himself as 'the most drunk he'd been in years'.

He admitted affray over the incident, of which he has no memory.

Judge Andrew Menary handed Stockton a 15-month imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, earlier this week.

The defendant was also ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work, subjected to a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and told to pay compensation of £750 plus a victim surcharge.

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McDonnell - who has nine previous convictions for 10 offences including assault, burglary, criminal damage and dishonesty offences but has not been before the courts since 2003 - was given an eight-month jail term, also suspended for 18 months.

He was also subjected to a four-month curfew, ordered to carry out a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement and told to pay a victim surcharge.

Sentencing, judge Menary said: "Whatever the disagreement, plainly you had no justification in behaving in the way that you did.

"This customer was in the pub minding his own business having popped in for a quiet pint, only to become aware of the unfolding disturbance.

"You, David Stockton, hit him heavily to the face for no reason at all, taking him to the ground - where he came into contact with a nearby pillar.

"He suffered a nasty laceration to the back of his head, but more worrying was the underlying internal bleeding revealed by a CT scan.

"This was a nasty incident - caused primarily by you, Michael McDonnell, and well and truly finished by you, David Stockton.

"You have expressed remorse, but nether of you could complain if I sent you immediately to prison today - and in many ways that is what you deserve.

"But I've come to the conclusion that, in both your cases, while a prison sentence is required I can suspend the operation of them."