TWO blood-covered Selby brothers fought over a sword as people on a night out in York city centre watched, magistrates heard.

Eyewitnesses to the struggle between Anthony David Blackburn, 27, and his younger brother, Mark Andrew Blackburn, 24, deluged police with emergency calls at about 10.30pm on March 29, said Matthew Harding, prosecuting.

When officers responded, they found the older brother holding the sword above his head in Merchantgate, York, and they hit him with a police baton to disarm him. Then the younger brother kicked a policeman. He owned the sword, which had a 50cm blade.

Both brothers were covered in blood.

Anthony Blackburn, of Cockrett Court, Selby, and Mark Blackburn, of Alma Terrace, Selby, pleaded guilty to affray.

Mark Blackburn, who also admitted assaulting a policeman and having an ornamental sword in public, was given 12 months' community rehabilitation with 40 hours' community punishment, and Anthony Blackburn was given six months' community rehabilitation. Both were ordered to pay £60 costs.

Jane Maloney, for Mark Blackburn, said his client had spent 12 hours in custody after his arrest. He had bought the sword legitimately that day, but had gone out drinking before taking it home. The only injury to either was a small cut that Anthony Blackburn suffered which bled a lot. Julian Tanikal, for Anthony Blackburn, said his client knew he had a problem with alcohol. Both solicitors said the brothers had been in drink during the fight.

Updated: 11:08 Friday, August 08, 2003