A SOLDIER in an elite Army regiment who was involved, barechested, in a large drunken brawl in Darlington, will be sentenced in December.

Harry Adrian Condren, of the Merville Barracks in Colchester, will be sentenced with five others who have also admitted violent disorder, at Teesside Crown Court on December 19.

The 18-year-old appeared before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe yesterday to admit the charge.

Prosecuting, Emma Shea said he and a number of Parachute Regiment recruits were out in Darlington in March when the defendant had got into a disagreement which resulted in a scuffle in the Avalon pub, on Blackwellgate, Darlington.

After that a large group of people, about 30 men, gathered in the street, pushing and shoving each other, the defendant bare-chested and goading the other men, Mrs Shea said.

Condren was released on unconditional bail, to appear back at Teesside Crown Court on December 19. A judge had asked for a pre-sentence report to be prepared for all the defendants.