THREE men could be facing jail after a pub fracas in which a customer was left seriously injured.

James Exton, 27, serving soldier William Exton, 18, and Steven Brown, 26, all pleaded guilty to affray at Burnley Crown Court.

They owned up to their part in the melee which took place at the New Black Bull on Mill Street last September.

Ivan Sharples, 49, suffered injuries to his head, neck and face after trouble broke out.

James Exton, of Hargrove Avenue, William Exton, of Thames Avenue, both from Burnley, and Brown, of Warwick Drive, Padiham, will all be sentenced at Preston Crown Court by Judge Andrew Woolman, on September 6.

He warned the defendants they might end up behind bars.

The Extons were bailed until the hearing and Brown was remanded in custody.

It is the second time James Exton has been in the dock at Burnley Crown Court over violence at the New Black Bull.

In April 2011, he was locked up for 77 weeks after the court was told of ‘terrifying and gratuitous’ gang violence at the premises.

Four people celebrating a birthday were targeted and a snooker ball and glasses were thrown.

James Exton, who had admitted affray over that incident as well, had also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of assault causing actual bodily harm, after he had punched a man outside a pub the November before.