THREE men admitted their roles relating to a night when rival gangs from neighbouring towns clashed.

Jordan Thorne-Peters, 18, of Beachley Road, Sedbury, and Duncan Peters, 37, also of Beachley Road, admitted affray and Ben Thorne, 18, of he Threeway, Littledean, admitted possession of an offensive weapon. Thorne denied affray and his plea was accepted by the prosecution.

The court heard a fourth man, Rikki Baldwin, 24, was due to have appeared in connection with the same allegations, but his body was found on the banks of the River Severn in May after he was seen to have jumped from a bridge into the water.

The body of Mr Baldwin, of Beachley Road, Sedbury, was found near Blakeney after a passenger in a passing train spotted it on rocks at the river shore.

Jane Rowley, prosecuting, said on the night of April 1, 2011, rival gangs from Chepstow and Sedbury were involved in a series of disturbances and skirmishes in Sedbury.

Judge Jamie Tabor said a “very dark shadow” was hanging over this case due to the death of Mr Baldwin.

He adjourned the case until September 5.