FORMER Crewe Alexandra footballer Tom Pope was caught on CCTV leading a vicious attack on two men outside a Hanley nightclub.

The 23-year-old striker, who signed for Rotherham this summer, was seen kicking and punching his victims along with two accomplices outside Hanley's Pink nightclub on February 8.

Carl Meredith, aged 39, and Jason Roberts, aged 21, joined in the brawl.

All three pleaded guilty to affray, but escaped immediate jail sentences at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday.

The court was shown footage from the CCTV cameras. At one point Pope, of Rothesay Road, Sneyd Green, was seen to stand on a car to aid his attack.

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Joanne Wallbanks, defending, said Pope was provoked by the men verbally abusing and assaulting his girlfriend.

But she told the court: "It was a complete over-reaction. Mr Pope is absolutely devastated after looking at the way he behaved on CCTV. "

Phillip Beardwell, prosecuting, said Pope's girlfriend tried to push him away until Meredith, of Kingston Avenue, Sneyd Green, and Roberts, of Hardman Street, Milton, appeared and Pope punched the first victim.

All three were seen hitting and kicking the men.

Mr Beardwell added: "It appears when the other two men arrived, Mr Pope was the protagonist."

Judge Robert Trevor-Jones told Pope: "In the second part of the violence it was you that struck the first blow. It was very brutal. Your occupation is such that you are involved in promotional work in the local community and schools – what sort of example do you think you have given them?"

Meredith claimed he was initially acting in self defence and thought the men were carrying knives.

Judge Trevor-Jones said: "As the older member you should have known better."

Peter McCartney, defending Roberts, told the court the men attacked by the trio, who were never identified, should not be labelled victims because they were "prepared to take part".

He said Roberts, who had started a career in the Air Army Corps, had been signed off with depression.

Pope was sentenced to six months' prison, suspended for 18 months, a 12-month supervision order and 200 hours' of unpaid work.

Meredith received a four-month suspended sentence and 150 hours' unpaid work.

After hearing any prison sentence would mean the end of Roberts's Army career, the judge sentenced him to a community order for 150 hours' of unpaid work.

All three were also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £722.