A HELENSBURGH publican has gone on trial accused of assaulting two sailors, who were in the pub, refusing to leave, believed to be drunk and allegedly insulting to staff.

One of the Royal Navy sailors, it was said at Dumbarton Sheriff Court, claimed to a waiter" "f***ing call the police, I'm on the Base, they won't do much."

Publican and restaurant owner Milan Nikolic, 41, of Shore Road, Kilcreggan, went on trial on Friday at Dumbarton Sheriff Court.

Giving evidence on the first day of the trial, former restaurant manager, Stewart Sharkey, 26, said: "Between 7pm and 9pm on April 2, 2016, I was with Milan (Nikolic) in the Cattle and Creel, one of Milan's other places. We left at the same time as we had been called to go to the Riverbank.

"When we arrived I saw two gents arguing with the staff. Milan engaged in conversation with them and was trying to calm the situation down. One of them, the smaller of the two, was quite aggressive and just wouldn't leave it alone.

"He refused to leave and it looked that he was lifting his hand as he approached Milan, who then struck the guy with his pal. It could have been his fist, I'm not sure.

"When the first man fell to the floor I got off my seat at the bar and stood over him. He appeared to be pretty drunk and motionless. When I turned round the other guy was on the floor."

Asked by prosecutor Carol Cameron how many times Nikolic had struck Mr Hamilton, Mr Sharkey replied: "Just the once."

Asked, "Did you know either of the two men?", Mr Sharkey said: "No."

The court was shown CCTV evidence of the whole incident in the bar, which had been passed over to police voluntarily by Nikolic.

Mr Sharkey went on: "Once the police arrived I left, as I was still working at the Cattle and Creel."

Questioned by defence agent, Tom Brown, Mr Sharkey added: "They were refusing to leave and being aggressive and we had to call for assistance."

Asked if he knew they were sailors, Mr Sharkey replied: "No, I assumed they were."

Waiter Keiran Greggan, 21, giving evidence, said: "One of them said to me 'I will drop you like the little b**ch you are'. Police were called.

"I froze. I was frightened as I am not a confrontational guy. They were pervy and creepy towards the female staff and I thought one of them was going to attack Milan.

"They were aggressive and unresponsive. When they were told that police had been called, one of them said 'I'm on the Base, they won't do much'.

"I could tell they were Navy."

Nikolic was alleged to have attacked off duty sailors, John Hamilton and Mathew Liptrott, at the Riverbank public house, West Clyde Street, Helensburgh, on April 2, last year.

It was claimed the publican repeatedly punched Mr Hamilton on the head, knocked him to the floor and caused him to lose consciousness. He was then alleged to have assaulted Mr Liptrott by repeatedly punching him on the head and body, knocking him to the floor, kicking him on the head and causing him also to lose consciousness.

Nikolic denies the charges; the trial before Sheriff John Hamilton was adjourned until June 9.