Three Basildon teenagers were sentenced to a total of 13 months in jail after a stranger suffered a fractured jaw in a brutal and unprovoked attack.

Danny Brooks, of Cattawade End, Troy Daley, of Copdoek and Martin Horvath, of Great Spenders, appeared at Basildon Magistrates for sentencing after pleading guilty at a hearing in May.

The court heard how the 18-year-olds met up in the town on Friday, January 30, and began drinking heavily at venues including the Moon on the Square pub and bowling alley.

Later that evening, the youths were in a 30-strong group thrown out of the bowling alley by security staff after reports of drug using in the toilets.

The three offenders then launched a vicious assault on two men they spotted near the Lloyds TSB bank on the East Walk.

One of the victims was punched in the face but managed to flee and call police.

His friend withdrew £30 from the cash machine and was then punched and pushed to the floor.

Brooks, Daley and Hovath continued their assault by kicking him on the ground and throwing glass objects at him.

Their defence barristers urged magistrates to impose community punishments saying the young offenders institute was a "university of crime" and would not serve to rehabilitate the youths.

Brooks was sentenced to three months, and a further two months imprisonment for a separate common assault charge dating back to November.

Jailing Horvath and Daley to four months each, bench chairman George Quintrell told them that their behaviour had been "totally unacceptable" and the offence was so serious that only a prison sentence was appropriate.

Published Tuesday July 27, 2004

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