UK sailor fined over bar incident

Minehunter HMS Pembroke was en route to the Middle East

A Royal Navy sailor has been fined 3,000 euros (£2,500) by an Italian court after a disturbance at a bar, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

Robert Leaver, 39, from Manchester, was one of eight sailors questioned by Italian police after chairs were thrown at the pub, in Sicily, on Monday night.

The sailors, from HMS Grimsby and HMS Pembroke, were on shore leave at a Nato base in the Sicilian town of Augusta.

A Navy spokesman said Mr Leaver could still face criminal charges.

Police were reportedly called after an argument broke out between the sailors and staff at the Il Buio pub in Augusta.

Mr Leaver appeared before a civil court on Wednesday and was ordered to pay a fine and costs totalling about £3,300.

An MoD spokesman said: "We can confirm that following an incident on shore in Augusta, Italy, a Royal Navy sailor from HMS Pembroke was arrested in custody pending a hearing.

"He appeared in court today and was fined 3,000 euros with 1,000 euros costs.

"We await details of the precise charges."

A spokesman for the Navy told the Daily Telegraph newspaper that Mr Leaver had been released from custody following the hearing, but could still face criminal charges for damaging state property and resisting arrest.

Minehunters HMS Grimsby and HMS Pembroke were en route from the UK to the Middle East when the incident happened.