Three office workers and two off-duty rail drivers were left nursing injuries after a “terrifying” 20-minute battle at Walmer Station.

All five had gone to the aid of stricken conductor Tamasine Clarke as she coped with a group of fighting youths on the Southeastern Dover-bound train last December.

Mark Hughes, one of the victims, suffers from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a serious condition affecting connective tissues that can make joints weaker.

Mr Hughes was left with horrific head, arm and leg injuries after the unprovoked attack.

Sean Deane, 22, of Weavers Way, Dover, has been jailed for two-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to unlawful wounding, affray and common assaults.

The court heard he had 47 previous offences, including for "battery".

But his friend, Rhys McCairn, 17, of Redsull Avenue, Deal escaped a custodial sentence for identical charges which he admitted.

Instead, the judge, recorder Sailesh Mehta, said he would “take a risk” and gave the teenager a Youth Rehabilitation Order for a year.

Prosecutor Rebecca Upton had told Canterbury Crown Court how the fight broke out on December 4 last year as Ms Clarke was trying to ensure the train left the station.

Each time she was about to alert the driver to go, someone kept pulling the emergency lever.

She then she saw two men – one in a beanie hat – shoving each other.

Ms Clarke heard McCairn shout at another thug – who has never been identified: “Come on bruv, do something about it!”

She alerted police and two off-duty drivers, Jason Smith and Michael Young, then went to assist the conductor.

They were joined by three office workers, Mr Hughes, Christopher Harmer and Darren Own who had been to Sandwich for a get-together.

Ms Upton said that as Mr Young tried to usher a group of woman away from the incident, one of them shouted she was “on a tag” and had to get home.

It was then that McCairn and Deane launched their attacks on the men, raining punches and kicks on Mr Hughes, who had been knocked to the ground.

She added that Mr Hughes – who needed hospital treatment for his extensive injuries – could remember nothing of the attack, which also damaged a watch which had been a first anniversary gift from his wife.

But a scaffolder working close by later told police he could hear “the thuds of the kicks” going into the office worker.

Other victims – who were left nursing cuts and bruises – later told police officers the attack – which had continued along three carriages – had left them feeling vulnerable and concerned when near groups of young people.

Mr Young, in a victim impact statement, said the disturbing incident had left him “fearing for civilisation”.

The court heard that Deane suffers from ADHD and autism.

Phil Rowley, for McCairn, told the judge the teenager accepted his behaviour was “thoroughly unacceptable”, adding: “He is ashamed of his behaviour and feels remorse. He has described himself as a horrible person.”

Mr Rowley added that since the incident McCairn had become a father is now tackling his alcohol and drugs problem.”

McCairn was also ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work for the community and has to remain at either his home or his girlfriend’s home in Swift Crescent, Dover between 7pm and 7am for the next six months.

The judge said: “This was a terrifying incident, both on and off the train, causing a number of people to be in fear and others receiving serious injuries.”