Punch-up at the wedding

Police were called to the celebrations at the Royal Oak and Castle in Pevensey last December and found Barry George Hepburn and his sons involved in a scuffle.

Hepburn punched one of the police officers several times and was finally pepper sprayed by officers before being arrested.

Hepburn admitted assaulting a police officer and appeared before district judge, Paul Tain, on Thursday.

Gabby Henty, prosecuting, said Hepburn and his sons had been arguing and it developed into a scuffle.

'When police arrived they approached Hepburn's sons and the defendant went toward PC Johnson and punched him in the face. When the officer managed to bring the defendant to the ground, he was punched, kicked and kneed by Hepburn. He was sprayed and arrested.'

Hepburn, a 57-year-old self-employed builder, of Potmans Lane, Lunsford Cross, originally denied the offence but changed his plea to guilty at a previous hearing.

Stuart Grace, defending, said Hepburn was a man of previous good character.

District judge, Paul Tain, told Hepburn he was lucky not to be going to prison.

'Normally anybody who aims a punch at a police officer goes to prison as far as I'm concerned, it's as simple as that,' said Mr Tain.

'But you have pleaded guilty, and have no form. I understand it is more on a scale of being drunk and disorderly. It was a family celebration and events got out of control. Your responsibility to protecting your kids was over the top.'

Hepburn was given a community punishment order of 210 hours and ordered to pay 100 compensation to the police officer, with 100 court costs.