TWO men are out of pocket today after they were fined for their part in a massive disturbance in Ipswich town centre.Curtis Codrington and James Thackeray both pleaded guilty to charges of threatening behaviour and resisting arrest following the disturbance on December 19.

TWO men are out of pocket today after they were fined for their part in a massive disturbance in Ipswich town centre.

Curtis Codrington and James Thackeray both pleaded guilty to charges of threatening behaviour and resisting arrest following the disturbance on December 19.

About 50 people are believed to have been involved in the incident, which left two police officers needing hospital treatment.

Up to 25 officers were deployed to the scene after a disagreement between two people, believed to be at the L'Apres wine bar, spilled onto the street and turned into a mass brawl.

Codrington of Troon Gardens, Ipswich was fined £275 and ordered to pay £55 costs for his part in the fracas.

Spray was used to restrain the 21-year-old after he kicked at the door of a police van and resisted arrest.

He had been arrested earlier in the dispute but once released walked back to the gang, got involved again and had to be rearrested.

Sandra Dyer, prosecuting said an officer had seen Codrington involved in a dispute with another man and, as Codrington ran towards the man, a police officer had stepped in and arrested him for threatening behaviour.

Codrington was handcuffed and put in a police van but managed to kick the door open.

Ian Duckworth, mitigating, said: "In short there was an altercation that arose in the street involving a variety of people.

"Mr Codrington, somewhat bizarrely, was spoken to by police earlier in the evening.

"He is put in a police van. It seems as though he is then released from there after giving his details.

"He shouldn't have got involved and it is quite clear from the papers that words have been exchanged in and outside the club. It's quietened down and then it starts up again. As far as he's concerned he was taken away, gives his details and is then released from the van but instead of going off he walks back to where the situation is going on, someone says something to him and he gets rearrested."

Thackeray, of Hutland Road, Ipswich was arrested later after police had cordoned off the area because of the earlier brawl.

Officers would not allow the 25-year-old through the cordon to meet his girlfriend and he became abusive.

Ms Dyer, said: "When the cordon was lifted he barged past and used derogatory language to officers. He was arrested and was taken to the floor."

Thackeray then lashed out and an officer felt pain on the right hand side of his face. Thackeray was ordered to pay £50 compensation to that officer.

Ian Duckworth, mitigating, said Thackeray had not been involved in the main dispute and was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Mr Duckworth argued Thackeray was being detained for no reason and only became abusive when he was not allowed through the cordon.

Magistrates at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court fined Thackeray £100 and ordered him to pay £55 costs plus £50 compensation to the officer.