A man has been jailed for two and a half years after a serious assault at the Crown Hotel in Alton High Street.

Police were called on Thursday, June 20, after reports that three people had been assaulted at the pub.

During the incident, a 28-year-old man suffered a torn retina and multiple eye socket fractures, and a 33-year-old man sustained broken ribs, cheek fractures and a broken eye socket.

Following an investigation by East Hampshire CID, Maxwell Rowe, 31, of Lovell Gardens, Alton, was arrested and charged with two counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent.

Rowe pleaded guilty to the offences and appeared at Winchester Crown Court on Friday, October 24, where he was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Detective Constable Joleene Dean of East Hampshire CID said: “I am pleased to see Rowe jailed for this very violent assault, which caused serious injuries to two people.

“We will not tolerate this behaviour in East Hampshire and we are committed to targeting offenders and ensuring victims receive the justice they deserve.”

Anyone wishing to report a crime can call police on 101 or visit the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary website. In an emergency, always call 999.