TWO brothers smashed a pub's windows after they were kicked out by staff, a Hereford court has heard.

Nicholas, 32, and Ben Paul Keyte, 34, each admitted one count of criminal damage and one of using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm, or distress, while Nicholas Keyte also admitted one count of assault by beating when they appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

The pair had been drinking in the Pembroke Arms pub in Tenbury Wells on March 18, prosecutor Eleanor Peart said.

Nicholas Keyte had gone through a door at the pub, causing it to bang loudly, and catching the attention of the assault victim, who looked up.

Keyte asked him what he was looking at, and was asked to leave by a member of staff as he became aggressive, but turned on her, swearing and asking her what she was on about.

He then attempted to punch a fellow pubgoer, hitting the victim in the face as he tried to defend his friend.

The brothers were both removed from the pub, with it taking six or seven people to lock the doors behind them, the court heard.

But instead of leaving, they started launching heavy clay plant pots at the pub, smashing windows and narrowly missing customers.

"This was a sustained incident with substantial damage, distress, and alarm caused," Miss Peart said.

"It caused one person to have a panic attack."

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Joseph Maloney, for the brothers, said they were deeply sorry for their actions.

"They both tell me that they were going through a bit of a bad patch. Their sister died in December last year, and they were both struggling to cope with this.

"There was no hesitation in pleading guilty, and they accept they had too much to drink. They are sorry for that they have done, but there may be a bereavement issue here in the background."

The case was sent for a pre-sentencing report to be carried out and Nicholas Keyte, of Kyreside, Tenbury, and Ben Keyte, of Pendas Meadow, Pinvin, will appear before magistrates for sentencing on May 18.