Three men guilty of “sickening violence” on the streets of Canterbury have been given sentences ranging from 18 months to three and half years.

Danny Goldup and Sam Martin, both 20, and Glen Rogers, 19, between them admitted three assaults in which one man was knocked unconscious and two students were attacked with a piece of wood and a brick.

Sentencing Martin to three and a half years, Goldup to two years and Rogers to 18 months, Judge Adele Williams said: “This was sickening violence on the streets of Canterbury fuelled by alcohol.”

She said the assault fell into the most serious bracket of the sentencing guidelines.

Goldup, of Sycamore Close, Chartham, and Martin, of no fixed address, both admitted assault causing actual bodily harm in February when the victim suffered a head wound which bled profusely and he was left unconscious in a pool of blood.

Canterbury Crown Court watched mobile phone footage of the attack which showed the victim being punched, kicked and stepped on by the city walls.

In June, Martin with Glen Rogers of Merchants Way, Canterbury, fought with two students, leaving one with grazes to his scalp after being hit with a brick and bruised fingers and the other with a foot injury.

Goldup and Martin had previous convictions for violence and Kerry Waitt, for Goldup, said at the time he was living on the streets, drinking too much and taking drugs.

He had since served a prison sentence, and having had a taste of prison, had no desire to return there.

Phil Rowley, for Rogers, who had no convictions, said it was a joint enterprise and accepted it was very upsetting for the victims.

He asked the court to consider Rogers’ age and that he took a secondary rather than primary part in the assault.

Alex Rooke, for Martin, said he accepted there was only one possible sentence and asked for credit for his plea.

Alcohol was his problem and while in custody he had engaged with the alcohol and drug services in prison, said Mr Rooke,

Judge Williams accepted Goldup was trying to put his life in order since the offence and that Martin was trying to rehabilitate himself. She gave all accused maximum credit for their pleas.

All were sent to a young offenders institute.