An Ipswich man has been handed a suspended sentence for his drunken behaviour at a Chantry pub during an international football tournament.

Reece Burgess, of Widgeon Close, in the Sprites area of town, appeared for sentencing at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday.

The 33-year-old was facing charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, relating to 2021.

The court heard that Burgess had visited the Kingfisher pub on the Chantry estate to watch a football tournament, the Uefa 2020 European Championship, which was delayed by a year in light of Covid restrictions.

The court heard that Burgess was asked to leave by the pub’s proprietor after his behaviour became anti-social.

While it was heard that Burgess has since accepted that he may have appeared “belligerent” and frightening to others, at the time he objected to being asked to leave.

He argued with the pub’s landlady, resulting in the charge of affray. In a summary from her victim personal statement read before the court, she said that she was afraid that Burgess was carrying a knife, and feared for her own safety and that of her customers.

Having exited the pub, Burgess then argued with another man. This resulted in a fight, during which Burgess kicked the man, damaging his elbow.

Judge Martyn Levett handed Burgess a sentence of 12 months for each offence, to run concurrently, which he suspended for two years.

He also barred Burgess from the Kingfisher - which has since changed hands and is due to open in September - for the next two years. This also applies to the area immediately outside and the pub car park.

Burgess will pay the victim £150 in compensation and complete 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.

He is also subject to a curfew between 7pm and 7am, a drug rehabilitation order, and an alcohol treatment requirement, which will run for two years.

“Quite frankly, you need to get your priorities right,” Judge Levett told Burgess.