THREE men became involved in a breakfast-time brawl outside a McDonalds' restaurant after watching a televised boxing match, a court has heard.

THREE men became involved in a breakfast-time brawl outside a McDonalds' restaurant after watching a televised boxing match, a court has heard.

The trio were waiting for the premises in Cardinal Park, Ipswich to open at 6am when they were became involved in an argument with two men, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

The two groups traded insults and violence erupted after one of the men in the group of three was slapped by one of the other men, said Godfried Duah, prosecuting.

The three men retaliated and one of the men who initiated the confrontation was knocked to the ground while the other was knocked to the ground and kicked.

Neither of the two men were seriously injured and didn't seek medical attention, said Mr Duah.

Before the court were Mark Stallard, 27, of Waterside Lane, Colchester and brothers John Sheppard, 25, of Downside Close, Ipswich and Paul Sheppard, 23, of Burke Road, Ipswich.

Stallard and John Sheppard admitted affray and Paul Sheppard admitted an offence under the Public Order Act.

Stallard and John Sheppard were each ordered to do 180 hours unpaid work in the community and Stallard was ordered to pay £300 costs and Sheppard £500 costs.

Paul Sheppard was fined £400 and ordered to pay £300 costs.

Sentencing the men Judge John Devaux said the incident had been provoked by the two men in the other group.

He said that because of the degree of provocation by the two men the offences did not cross the custody threshold.

Russell Butcher for Paul Sheppard said he had initially tried to break the incident up but accepted using excessive force.

Mr Butcher said that John Sheppard had kicked one of the men on the shoulder. “That was excessive in the circumstances,” said Mr Butcher.

He said the whole incident had been provoked by the other two men.

Sasha Bailey for Stallard said her client had suffered injuries in the incident including having an earring ripped out and being butted in the face.

“He is extremely remorseful for his actions but if he hadn't been put in that position by the complainants he wouldn't have acted in the way he did,” she said.