Competition can be fierce at gay community award ceremonies, but rival bar owners at Brighton's 'gay Oscars' this year took things to extremes when one ended up with his fingers around another's throat, a court has heard.

A politician witnessed the bust-up and told the court he saw Simon Thompson holding Sharon Barr by the throat halfway through the awards evening back in March.

"I cannot overemphasise the anger I saw in his eyes," he said, according to the Argus newspaper.

"He was very fired up and was gripping this person around the throat. I could see his fingers pressing into the neck."

Both were nominated for awards for their respective LGBT venues.

Barr told the court that Thompson called her a "lesbian bitch" and also kicked her in the shin.

Thompson defended himself, saying "I called her a leprechaun bitch because that is her nickname. It is what everyone round here calls her."

More on this story is on the Argus website, linked below.