MEMBERS of a biker gang kicked a man in the face after attacking him in a town centre pub and brandished a knife at customers who tried to come to his aid.

Michael Mckeon and Andrew Stevenson dragged their victim from Porters Ale House before beating him up in an early hours 'drink and drug fuelled' attack, Liverpool Crown Court heard on Friday, July 6.

The pair, members of biker gang the Sons of Hell, were drinking in the Buttermarket Street pub at around 2.30am on Saturday, January 27, when Chris Forshaw became involved in a dispute at the bar.

Mr Forshaw claimed that he had dropped some money and was bending down to pick it up, but a female customer accused him of attempting to steal her cash.

He was then dragged outside to the smoking area at the rear of the pub by Mckeon and Stevenson, who were wearing Sons of Hell branded jackets - with CCTV of the ensuing 'totally unprovoked and unnecessary' attack played in court.

Mckeon, of West Avenue in Stockton Heath, pushed Mr Forshaw to the floor and kicked him in the face before punching him.

Stevenson, of Lovely Lane in Whitecross, pointed a knife at customers who attempted to come to Mr Forshaw's aid and elbowed him in the face and chest.

The 34-year-old was also seen taking hold of another unidentified victim by the throat.

Mr Forshaw suffered bruising and bleeding to his eyes after the assault.

On Friday, recorder Stephen Riordan sentenced Stevenson to two years and nine months behind bars but spared Mckeon from serving time in jail after the pair admitted actual bodily harm.

Stevenson also admitted possession of a bladed article and breaching a suspended sentence handed to him for affray in 2016.

The court heard that the Northwest Spartans Ltd business owned by Stevenson, who has 14 previous convictions for 36 offences, which employs six people would fold if he was jailed.

He claimed he had branded a bevel edged work tool in the pub rather than a knife.

Barrister Desmond Lennon, representing Mckeon, told the court that his client had served in the Royal Engineers between 2008 and 2012.

The 28-year-old, who has one previous conviction for being drunk and disorderly, was employed as a welder before being made redundant eight months ago.

He has since trained to work in the security industry.

Mckeon was given a 15-month jail sentence suspended for two years, handed a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 30 days and ordered to complete 120 hours unpaid work.

Sentencing, recorder Riordan said: "This was a disgraceful incident of violence and a sustained assault.

"For little or no reason, the victim was removed from the bar and attacked by both of you.

"You continued to attack him when he was on the floor, and he received nasty injuries.

"There is one very significant difference between the two of you, a difference which must be reflected in the sentences I pass today.

"Mr Stevenson, you have a quite appalling criminal record while you Mr Mckeon are effectively of previous good character.

"There has to be some disparity in the sentences in this case."