Soldier honoured by Queen locked up for brawl

A soldier honoured by the Queen is in a military prison today after a drunken brawl with his fellow Guardsmen.

Paul Hewitt, 25, had been picked to be a member of The Queen's Guard, and was given the Royal Victorian Medal - the monarch's personal gift - for being a pallbearer at the Queen Mother's 2002 funeral at Westminster Abbey.

He was also selected for special duties at St James's Palace. But at a court martial he was sentenced to 11 months' detention after pleading guilty to two counts of affray.

The hearing was told Guardsman Hewitt, of the Irish Guards, was involved in a drunken fight with Peter Barwick of the Scots Guards and Simon Richardson of the Grenadier Guards in central London 18 months ago.

Lance Corporal Barwick and Guardsman Richardson were acquitted of affray at an earlier trial.

At yesterday's hearing in Colchester Judge Advocate Robert Seymour told Guardsman Hewitt, who comes from Liverpool: "This was a display of appalling violence involving three drunken soldiers. Such conduct is inexcusable."

Defence lawyer Hugh O'Donoghue told the court that Guardsman Hewitt's family "are very proud of him and what he has achieved as a soldier".

Mr O'Donoghue added: "He has been honoured by his regiment and he has been honoured by the Queen. He is hugely remorseful."