It was a scrum with everyone yelling and screaming

Witness Kevin Weaver

Magistrates in Newport heard how 300 guests had attended the dinner dance at the King's Hotel which had been arranged for staff of Monmouthshire County Council.

The court was told that trouble flared up after Mrs Griffiths leaned on the stage and was sworn at by the keyboard player.

The couple from Two Locks in Cwmbran denied the assault, occasioning actual bodily harm.

But after a two-day trial magistrates found them guilty and ordered them to pay the Abba look-alikes �800 in compensation.

'Head-butted'

Laurence Jones, prosecuting said: "The Abba impersonators were entertaining the guests when Mrs Griffiths leaned against the stage.

"Keyboard player Mark Pemberton swore at her and the violence started from there.

"Tony Griffiths head-butted Mr Pemberton while Debra Griffiths bit singer Miss Brigham on the cheek."

Witness Kevin Weaver told the court: "Debra Griffiths and the two women from the band were on top of one another on the floor.

"It was a scrum with everyone yelling and screaming."

The tribute band were in full Abba costume

Tony Scott who plays Bjorn in the Shropshire-based group said: "I had to separate the women and as I did so the other lady was still attached to Natalie's cheek."

Miss Brigham, 30, was left with a scar on her cheek and has to use make-up to hide it before going on stage.

Mr Pemberton, 35, was left concussed in the attack which cost the band �1,600 in cancelled performances.

The couple from Two Locks in Cwmbran denied the assault, occasioning actual bodily harm.

But after a two-day trial magistrates found them guilty and ordered them to pay the Abba look-alikes �800 in compensation.

Magistrates were told that they were respectable people with no previous convictions.

Tony Griffiths was given a 40-hour community punishment order and ordered to pay Mr Pemberton �500 compensation.

His wife was also given a 40-hour community punishment order and ordered to pay Miss Brigham �300 compensation.

They were both ordered to pay �150 costs.