Former boxing world champion Billy Joe Saunders attacked rival thugs with beer bottles during a mass brawl at a baby shower.

The 37-year-old used a bottle to assault people on three occasions when chaos erupted at the celebration.

He was one of nine men embroiled in the 'very violent' tear-up, which saw one stabbed through the hand with a flick knife, Warwick Crown Court heard.

Another man was alleged to have been seen with a gun.

All of those involved had been invited to the bash at Poppy's Club in Bulkington, Warwickshire, on November 27, 2021, by Audie Knowles, 38, to celebrate his wife's pregnancy.

A witness said Saunders was 'drunk, drinking a lot' and was 'being derogatory towards Irish people'.

The court heard there had been a fight between two members of the group earlier in the evening but matters had calmed.

But it blew up for an unknown reason in a split second after midnight on November 28.

CCTV footage played in court showed a coming together at the venue before one of the five defendants, John-Leon Porter, now 27, punched another suspect.

A huge brawl then spilled over into the buffet area with items from the spread launched amid the furore.

Knowles, also a defendant, struck a bottle over the back and head of Porter around 13 times and hit another man with the item some 15 times, it was said.

Prosecuting, Patrick Sullivan said one witness saw ex-Olympian Saunders emptying a beer bottle near the bar so he could use it as a weapon.

He was seen wrestling with one man as he tried to batter him with the bottle.

The court also heard bottles had smashed as Saunders launched them across the room.

Saunders then rained down six punches in four seconds on four men, including Porter – who sat next to him in the dock on Thursday, September 17.

Saunders struck one of the same men again shortly afterwards.

Sentencing Saunders to 15 months in jail, suspended for 18 months, the judge said: 'You were a boxer of some skill and repute at the Olympics and as a professional.

'You were involved in this (brawl) at a more serious level than three of those with you today (in the dock), as you used a bottle and were considerably involved in this offence, but I bear in mind you did not dive in at the outset, you got involved a little later.'

One of two unknown brawlers pulled a knife from his pocket and stabbed one of those involved, Mr Sullivan said.

Defending Saunders, Sebastian Gardiner told how his client's life had spiralled just months before the melee, when he lost to Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez in May 2021, which took place in front of a record 73,126 people at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Saunders' eye socket was broken during the super-middleweight unification fight, which had four world titles on the line.

His Honour Judge Thomas Rochford said that as a pro boxer Saunders 'should be able to manage his feelings in a way others can't'.

Mr Gardiner said: 'It was an incident that took place at a time where he was extremely low, he had been drinking for the first time in his adult life. He'd trained to be a boxer from being a child.

'He got to a very high level with lots of attention and expectation on him.

'His world came tumbling down in May that year when he was defeated.

'It was a fight which led to a fractured eye socket and which, in effect, ended his career.

'He's a finely tuned athlete, his whole world revolved around being a boxer.

'He had put on a huge amount of weight between May and November as he was drinking a lot and had come off the rails.

'He was devastated to see himself behave like that.

'It acted as a catalyst for him to recognise that he had behaved inappropriately and that he was mismanaging his life.'

In September last year Saunders was sentenced to a community order and fined after pleading guilty to illegally using dogs to hunt and kill hares, but that offence was not taken into consideration during Thursday's sentencing as it post-dated the brawl.

Mr Gardiner said Saunders had shed four stone and given up booze since the 2021 scrap and is now back in training with a view to having a professional bout in December.

The court heard how Saunders had been training amateur and professional fighters and a string of character references were sent to the judge.

They included a letter sent from a member of the Lib Dems and also 'a party on the right,' the judge said, as well as several boxing clubs.

He said he noted his intention to return to the ring, adding: 'I know a custodial sentence would affect that.'

The court heard how Saunders was 'a man of some means' financially and was happy to pay whatever fine or costs were imposed upon him.

He was ordered to pay £1,000 in costs and a £1,000 fine, and he will carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months.

Burly Knowles was jailed for 15-months, with the judge telling him: 'It was a disgraceful brawl in a bar in which you were heavily involved and used a bottle repeatedly.'

A witness said that another defendant, David Draper, 40, who was on bail at the time, had retrieved a gun during the fight and hid it under a white top or cloth.

The white item could be seen in the CCTV as rotund Draper returned from out of shot, but the firearm claim could not be substantiated.

He was given 12-months, suspended for 18-months, along with 140 hours unpaid work.

He was slapped with a fine of £500 and costs of £500.

Martin Fury, 37, had 'slight' involvement and was given a nine-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, along with 120 hours of unpaid work, and a £500 fine.

Porter, 27, got 33 weeks, suspended for 18 months as well as 120 hours of unpaid work and a £500 fine.

He threw just one punch before being 'battered by people with bottles', his barrister Lee Masters said.

All five defendants pleaded guilty to violent disorder earlier this year.

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