FIVE people were today cleared of violent disorder during a terrifying pub brawl less than two hours before a man at the centre of it died.

Three people were convicted and will be sentenced along with eight others who pleaded guilty to the charge earlier in the proceedings.

The violence - described as "four minutes of total mayhem" in court - erupted at the Park Hotel in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough a year ago.

Benji Bolsenbroek, 23, was out with friends to celebrate the birth of his child, a jury at Teesside Crown Court heard during a trial.

Those who were found guilty - all from Middlesbrough - are: Paul Kime 26, of Daleville Road, Beechwood; his brother Michael Kime, 28, of Lambton Road, Grove Hill; Vicki Kilpatrick, 25, of Woodville Avenue, Beechwood.

Anthony Conway, 24, of Barberry, Coulby Newham; Blaine McCarthy, 22, of Blackhall Sands, Acklam; Benjamin Jones, 24, of Hesleden Avenue, Acklam; Juston Heward, 24, of Harrow Road, Linthorpe; and Mr Bolsenbroek's brother, Cain Conroy, 37, of Slaley Close, New Marske, east Cleveland, were all acquitted.

Those who pleaded guilty are: Mark Dobbing, 28, of Lansdown Road, Thornaby, near Stockton; Christopher Bennett, 23, of Chadderton Drive, Thornaby; Andrew Sloan, 24, of Coral Grove, Stockton; Hayley Crossling, 20, of Forber Road, Saltersgill, Middlesbrough; her sister Lorren Crossling, 23, of Daleville Close, Beechwood; Richard Parkes, 29, and Demi-Louise Bishop, 20, both of Thorndyke Avenue, Beechwood; and Jenny Futo, 24, of York Road, Middlesbrough.

Judge John Walford is expected to sentence the defendants in the New Year after probation reports have been prepared on them.

He told those convicted after the trial that him granting them bail was no indication of the punishment that would be passed.