by Paul Hooper

A wannabe soldier from Chatham who won a Silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award has been jailed for a gratuitous attack on two youngsters.

Powerfully-built Tashan Wilson, 20, was waiting to join the Royal Marines when he got drunk, a court heard.

The former cadet corporal, who had downed beer, spirits and wine, picked on one lad demanding a lighter before kicking another and leaving him "black and blue".

Wilson, of Walderslade Road, admitted two charges of robbery at Canterbury Crown Court and was jailed for a total of four years eight months.

Judge James O'Mahony told him he had started the first attack on John Smith for a "tuppeny ha'penny" lighter.

"[He was] a man who had done you no harm and you kicked him," Judge O'Mahony said.

Mr Smith placed the lighter on a nearby car and ran away after the attack.

John's friend Dale Walker, who had witnessed the incident in Church Hill in Ramsgate, "bravely or foolishly" went to confront Wilson to demand the return of the lighter, prosecutor Ian Foinette told the court.

"He asked for the lighter to be returned. Wilson told him that if he came closer he would return it. But when he did so, he was attacked and was punched and kicked repeatedly."

Walker later said that Wilson was "speaking gangsta", saying things like "Give me your s**t", before taking his mobile phone, tobacco and another lighter.

Mr Foinette said the police were called and arrested Wilson who was abusive and lashed out at an officer.

Alex Rooke, defending, said Wilson had planned to join the Royal Marines and had been awaiting a call to start his basic training when the incident happened.

"He got drunk and misbehaved. That plan went out of the window," he added.

The court heard the youngster had received the Silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award and had completed courses arranged by The Prince's Trust.

The judge told him: "This started that night when you were drunk. You are a strong, powerfully-built man and you attacked Mr Smith for no more than a tuppeny-ha’penny lighter. This was pure gratuitous violence.

"Mr Walker believed what you had done wasn't right and he was left black and blue by you kicking and punching him.

"What is so worrying is this attitude where everyone has to be so aggressive. Decent people are sick and tired of it. They don't want to end up on the floor being kicked."