A LANDLORD who was allegedly attacked at a Horwich pub was court martialled while serving in the Army, a jury heard.

Lee Flannery claims that David Richardson assaulted him on Remembrance Sunday last year.

Richardson's sons Liam and Ryan are also accused of affray following the disturbance after last orders were called at the pub.

But Bolton Crown Court was told that Mr Flannery, who ran the Bridge Inn, was disciplined in November 2011 after leaving a superior with a fractured nose during a fight at a social function.

During questioning from Adrian Palmer, defending David Richardson, Mr Flannery said: "I didn't accept the charges against me but I never denied that me and a previous work colleague had a disagreement and a fight. I disputed massively how it happened."

The court heard how David Richardson and his wife had been at the pub, in Church Street, celebrating their wedding anniversary but had been asked to leave after becoming involved in a row with other customers.

At 10.30pm the same day David Richardson returned to the pub with his sons and apologised.

But just before midnight Ryan Richardson began swearing at bar staff and the landlord ushered them out of the pub.

Other customers are said to have followed them and a "mass brawl" broke out after David Richardson allegedly headbutted one of the customers.

Among those involved was customer Liam Abbott, who was allegedly attacked and both Mr and Mrs Flannery were also said to have been punched and kicked before police arrived.

Mr Flannery told the court he initially believed David Richardson was behaving in a "conciliatory manner".

He said: "I felt comfortable with David that he was trying to calm his sons down. I didn't feel in any sort of threat.

"I was quite surprised. I still believed that they would follow and they go home and when that happened I was shocked."

Mr and Mrs Flannery no longer run the pub.

Liam Richardson, aged 23, of Clively Walk, Swinton, denies assaulting landlady Corrine Flannery and causing grievous bodily harm to customer Liam Abbott.

David Richardson, aged 49, of Owens Row, Horwich, denies assaulting landlord Lee Flannery, and Ryan Richardson, aged 21, of Shetland Way, Urmston, denies affray.

The trial continues.