Two mob-handed thugs behaved like "feral animals" when they attacked a brother and sister, striking them with almost 100 blows in just 90 seconds.

John Hazelgrove and Patrick Holmes left Michael Elson with a fractured skull and his sibling Lara Elson with cuts and bruises following what was described as a "savage, vicious and cowardly" assault in Herne Bay.

Fuelled by alcohol, the two men were said to have deliberately targeted their victims to exact "petty revenge" for having been caught with a missing handbag.

After leaving Vivid nightclub where an earlier row had broken out in the street outside, the pair loitered around before spotting Mr Elson, who — in an attack which happened further down the high street — was then dealt as many as 89 kicks, punches and stamps to the head as he lay on the ground in the foetal position desperately trying to protect himself.

His sister was also set upon as she bravely came to his rescue.

Shockingly, just seconds before the brutal assault by Holmes and Hazelgrove, a Vauxhall Vivaro van had driven at speed at Mr Elson, mounted the kerb and clipped him with a wing mirror.

Several occupants then decamped and began to attack him, with the defendants caught on CCTV running towards the fracas to pile in.

Dad-of-two Holmes was said to have played a leading role in the unprovoked attack, jumping up and down on Mr Elson's head as well as landing the final "swinging kick" as he tried to sit up.

Canterbury Crown Court heard he was knocked unconscious and, once at hospital, had to be put in an induced coma.

Ms Elson was punched so hard in the face by Holmes she immediately fell to the ground and also needed medical treatment for injuries to her head.

But although it was said their 29-year-old assailants were usually "decent and working family men" who had behaved out of character when heavily intoxicated, a judge decided the need to punish them and deter others from engaging in such violence could only be met by immediate prison sentences.

She also rejected Holmes's ADHD as an explanation for his actions in the early hours of March 3 this year, and said it was simply "a matter of luck" the consequences had not been even more serious for Mr Elson.

Prosecutor Ben Wild told the court at the sentencing hearing on Tuesday that the Elsons had spent the evening with family and friends, leaving the nightclub at around closing time.

At that point, one of the group noticed her handbag was missing and a row broke out when it was found in Holmes' possession.

Punches were thrown, said Mr Wild, but not by the Elsons. However, while Holmes appeared to be acting "aggressively", Hazelgrove tried to encourage his pal to leave.

The incident was eventually broken up by door staff and the two parties went their separate ways.

However, the defendants were said to have hung around the nightclub for "some considerable time" while the Elsons were trying to arrange their journey home.

It was then as Mr Elson was walking ahead of his group, that the van arrived on the scene.

Mr Wild said "multiple" occupants got out and began to lay into Mr Elson before Hazelgrove and Holmes joined in.

"John Hazelgrove was seen to punch Mr Elson to the head some 39 times and stamp on his head too while Mr Elson remained in a foetal position on the floor," the prosecutor told the court.

"Patrick Holmes kicked and punched Mr Elson a total of 50 times while he was in the same position and in tandem with Hazelgrove.

"He (Holmes) was also repeatedly jumping up to stamp on his head and delivered a swinging kick to Mr Elson's face as he attempted to sit up."

“It makes me cry thinking about what happened..."

At that point, Mr Elson lost consciousness. His sister ran to help him, only to be punched to the back of the head by a woman involved in the fracas.

The court heard Ms Elson was then pushed to the ground where multiple people started kicking her to the head and back.

Holmes was also caught on camera forcefully punching her in the face.

All the attackers then fled, either on foot or in the van, while the Elsons were taken to hospital.

As well as a fractured skull, Mr Elson also sustained brain swelling and a broken nose.

It was not said how long he remained in a coma but the court was told he did not need surgery, had recovered "reasonably well" and since returned to work.

No victim impact statement was provided by him, although Lara Elson, who suffered a suspected fractured cheekbone, multiple bruising to her body, cuts to her temple and scalp and an injured hand, told police two days later that she was still "in shock".

"It still hasn't sunk in fully... I have been sick, don't want to eat and don't want to talk about it," she said.

"I don't know how I feel and I don't know how Michael is doing. I'm really worried about him. It makes me cry thinking about what happened."

Holmes, of Clarendon Street, Herne Bay, and Hazelgrove, of Rowland Drive, Herne Bay, both admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Michael Elson and assault causing actual bodily harm to Lara Elson.

Just two months earlier Holmes, had been cautioned by police for assault - while in February 2019, Hazelgrove had been jailed for 29 months for affray, making threats to kill and possessing a bladed article.

His previous convictions also include two assaults on police in 2012.

Donna Longcroft, defending, said neither sought to excuse their behaviour and had written apologetic letters to the victims which were handed to the court.

Hazelgrove, the father of a three-year-old, described how "drink turns me into the man I am not" and stated he "hated" himself for what he had done.

"I just want to say sorry for my part in the attack. I'm totally ashamed for my actions. I wish I could go back to before this happened," he wrote.

"After watching the CCTV I felt physically sick. That is not me in the video. I don't recognise myself... I hope in time you might be able to forgive me."

Holmes, who has two children aged six and 12, spoke of his remorse and said he "could not apologise enough".

"I feel such a bad person for everything I have done. It would never have happened if I hadn't been under the influence of alcohol. That has been my downfall in life," he wrote.

"I hope you can forgive me and understand I never meant for this to happen."

Ms Longcroft told the court that Hazelgrove had very little memory of what happened that night and, having tried to diffuse the initial altercation, then became "embroiled in the chaos".

"ADHD doesn't cause people to repeatedly jump and stamp on people's heads or rain down punches…”

"His behaviour was despicable. He took leave of his senses. But he couldn't be more sorry," she said, before adding he had undertaken several courses while in custody on remand to address his behaviour.

Holmes, she said, suffered from "significant" ADHD, anxiety and depression, and recognised his problems with alcohol and binge-drinking.

"He too was incredibly drunk and behaved terribly. He allowed himself to lose control... This was completely out of character for him," she added,

The courtroom was packed with family and friends of the defendants.

Passing sentence, Judge Alison Russell said the Elsons' "pleasant night out had turned sour" after Holmes took the handbag.

But she said, rather than simply apologising, he and Hazelgrove then made "deliberate and calculated" decisions not only to look for an opportunity for further trouble but also to join in the violence being meted out on Mr Elson by the "mob" which had decamped from the van.

Ms Elson was then assaulted, the judge said, after she had, in contrast to their "cowardly" actions, "run towards the pack to try to rescue her brother".

"This savage assault lasted for about a minute and a half. That may not sound like a long time to those sitting here in the courtroom," remarked Judge Russell.

"But imagine what it felt like to Michael Elson, laying on the floor as he was repeatedly kicked and punched.

"Indeed, having viewed the CCTV, both you and the large group can be best described as acting like a pack of feral animals, exacting petty revenge for being caught with a handbag.

"Both of you returned on more than one occasion to deliver further blows even when the rage of others in your group had abated."

Of the fact Mr Elson had since recovered from the injuries inflicted by the pair, Judge Russell continued: "It is a matter of luck rather than any restraint on the part of you.

"A single punch can kill a man. You might both consider yourselves fortunate that the outcome of your vicious attack was not more serious than it might have been."

But despite being told of their "apparent" remorse, the impact on their own families as a result of their crimes, and personal backgrounds, including Holmes's mental health problems, the judge said: "ADHD doesn't cause people to repeatedly jump and stamp on people's heads or rain down punches.

"It is, perhaps, alcohol or rage that has done that."

Jailing each of them for a total of four years, Judge Russell added: "A prison sentence must have not only rehabilitation as part of its purpose. It must also have deterrence, putting off young men from engaging in violent mob-activity outside nightclubs.

"It must also have an element of retribution."