A manipulative bully, who began a punch-up at his 50th birthday celebrations, has been jailed for nine years.

David Stembridge had claimed that during the fight at a Garlinge pub, his son Derek was being attacked.

But during the ensuing scrap at The Rodney, the burly Stembridge “forearmed” one person, punched another in the back, hit another in the face and put his foot on the face of a man on the floor.

Sentencing at Maidstone Crown Court, the judge, Recorder Jason Dunn-Shaw, told him he was a manipulative bully who had attacked an innocent man.

Following the trial at Canterbury Crown Court, the jury rejected Stembridge’s account that he had been acting in self-defence.

They convicted him and his son, then 20, of wounding “peacemaker” Michael
Goodchild with intent.

Derek Stembridge was sent to a young offender institution for four-and-a-half years but has since been moved to prison after turning 21.

The dad had claimed that had he wanted to inflict serious harm, he would have been facing a charge of murder.

The judge added: “You related to the jury how much blood could be spilled from the mildest head injury.

“Such was your conceit at your prowess as a fighter that you teetered on the brink of bragging about your previous victorious bare-knuckle encounters. It was a most pathetic display.”

The judge praised eye-witness and Thanet football referee Joanne Park for her courage.

"It was a most pathetic display" - Recorder Jason Dunn-Shaw

Commending her for a £300 High Sheriff’s Award, he said the barmaid had been “level-headed and courageous in the face of a terrifying situation”.

He said that Ms Park had telephoned the police and given them a running commentary.

David Stembridge, who is 51 now, and Derek Stembridge, both of Dane Valley Road, Margate, had denied the offences.

David and Derek were also each convicted of another assault on victims Ian Walker and Ian
Williams.

David’s daughter Kayleigh, 26, of Kent Road, Margate, who was pregnant at the time of the incident, was acquitted of wounding but the jury found her guilty of assaulting Rebecca Beach.

She was given a five-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months.

The jury heard how father and son began “squaring up to each other” during the late-night party celebrations.

But both turned on other pub-goers who intervened to keep them apart, punching, kicking and stamping on Mr Goodchild, described by prosecutor Richard Scott as a “peacemaker”.

The judge told Derek, who is a talented footballer, he had sympathy for him after hearing how he had urged his father to go home that night.

He told the youngster, who dreamt of becoming a Royal Marine: “Your conduct was inspired by a misplaced loyalty to your father.”