A HOLIDAYMAKER was attacked by a mob of 30 people after he asked fellow caravan park residents to keep the noise down.

Ian Clark was enjoying a bank holiday break at Witton Castle, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, with his wife and children when he was attacked by the mob, armed with metal bars, tables and chairs, in May last year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Mr Clark spent time in hospital with suspected internal injuries. His wife, Amanda, who was also caught up in the fracas, received treatment for cuts and bruises.

Graeme Gaston, prosecuting, said Mr Clark had approached a small group congregating by a caravan next to his. He said: "Due to noise, Mr Clark went to speak to them. He asked the group to keep the noise down as children were in bed, but simply got abuse as a response."

The court heard that, as Mr Clark tried to calm the group down, he was hit in the face by someone.

Mother-of-six Kelly Connelly then inflamed the situation by screaming "he's hit a kid".

Mr Gaston said: "A male then appeared holding a large plank of wood and struck him over the head.

"As Kelly Connelly continued to scream that Mr Clark had hit a kid, a large group appeared and set upon Mr Clark.

"Girls were seen to be throwing chairs and males were using sticks and other weapons upon him.

"Mr Clark tried to get up twice, but was beaten to the floor on both occasions."

Connelly, 31, Darren Roe, 15, and a 14-year-old girl, who is not being named, all admitted violent disorder.

Connelly, of Ridley Street, Sunderland, already has previous convictions. She was sentenced to a six-month curfew order.

Bob Spragg, in mitigation, said Connelly had been an unwitting catalyst to what happened and she felt sorry for the injuries caused.

Roe, formerly of Southwick, Sunderland, is already serving an 18-month detention and training order for robbery and was ordered to serve an extra six months.

The 14-year-old also admitted charges of robbery and attempted robbery carried out with friend Bronya Armes, 21, in November after the girl was released on bail in relation to the violent disorder.

The court heard how the pair targeted two teenage girls in Southwick, Sunderland, and took a mobile phone and cash. The 14-year-old was sentenced to a two-year supervision order.

None of the three defendants used weapons or admitted injuring Mr Clark.

Armes, of Thompson Road, Sunderland, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail after he pleaded guilty to robbery and attempted robbery.