Recorder Mr Richard Atchley, sitting at Ipswich Crown Court, said he believed the police had "got it wrong" when they arrested George Scott, of Wingfield Road, Lakenheath, together with a 16 year old and a 17 year old, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Prosecutor Godfried Duah said their two attackers had been tracked by CCTV walking along the High Street after they were thrown out of a nightclub.

They had confronted the two teenagers outside the White Hart, before Scott, who had been drinking at the pub, emerged in a bid to help the two youngsters.

Police sent four vehicles to the scene to deal with the disturbance and that resulted in Scott and the two teenagers being arrested and charged.

But Mr Atchley said neither Scott nor his co-accused should have ended up in court because they had not initiated the violence and the CCTV pictures showed them trying to back away from the two men.

"Seldom have I seen two young men behave so sensibly," he told the 16 and 17 year old. "I'm sorry you have had to come here."

The three defendants were each made the subject of a six-month conditional discharge. Scott was also ordered to pay £100 towards the cost of the prosecution.