A banned motorist, who used his car to try to kill two soldiers in Maidstone, has been given a 30 year extended jail sentence.

Father-of-three Anthony Deeprose deliberately ran over the head of one soldier and knocked his colleague over the bonnet of the car he was driving after a argument outside Wetherspoons.

As he was being sentenced, the family and friends of the 30-year-old erupted in fury repeatedly screaming: "No-one f***** died."

Judge Philip Statman left the bench at Maidstone Crown Court as security staff and police officers ushered the angry mob away.

But before they left, they turned on the victims of the unprovoked assaults who were sitting quietly with colleagues.

The sentencing hearing was interrupted for 15 minutes before the judge was able to return to complete sentencing of Deeprose, who had apologised for their behaviour.

A jury at Maidstone Crown Court convicted him on two charges of attempted murder after hearing how one of the soldiers had suffered life-changing head wounds.

Judge Statman ruled that he still posed a danger to the public and gave him an immediate 27 year jail term before adding an extra three years which he will serve when he is finally released.

The jury at the trial had heard how the incident, which was caught on CCTV, took place at just past midnight on November 12, 2022, outside Society Rooms in Week Street, Maidstone

A group of soldiers, based at the Invicta Park barracks in Maidstone, had been attending an 80s fancy dress party in their barracks for the Help The Heroes charity.

Soldier Ben Walsh, dressed as Freddie Mercury, and his pal George Wilkie, who was cartoon character Mario, had then gone with colleagues to the pub near Maidstone East Station.

Deeprose, 30, of Church Road, near Maidstone and formerly Beecholme Drive in Ashford, had denied two attempted murder charges.

Prosecutor Patrick Dennis told how Deeprose, who had been drinking, assaulted one of the soldiers, Alex White, by punching him in the head.

He added that being disqualified hadn't prevented him from getting into his car and deliberately driving at the other group knocking over Mr Walsh and clipping his colleague.

He then drove off, leaving Mr Walsh injured in the road before turning around. As Mr Wilkie attempted to pull his friend to safety, Deeprose then aimed at him as people looked on in horror.

The defendant then revved the engine before deliberately driving over Mr Walsh's head as he lay in the road and causing Mr Wilkie to fly over the bonnet before driving away.

The court heard that Mr Walsh was still undergoing treatment and needed vital operations on his face - and each time, the soldier could be left blind.

The judge told him that he was satisfied he had formed an intent to kill as he turned the car around. They said: "It was pre-meditation for a short period of time."

“Deeprose knew he was likely to cause serious harm to those he drove towards and it is only by chance that we were not dealing with fatalities...”

When he was later arrested, Deeprose tried to blame a female friend and began screaming and shouting at officers.

The judge added: "You have had a real problem with your temper."

Deeprose was also convicted of driving while disqualified, dangerous driving and assault and received a three-year driving ban which he will serve once he is released after serving two-thirds of the 27-year sentence.

After the sentencing, the judge praised the soldiers for their courage and commended officers DC's Abbie Brookes, Mark Butler, DS Ash Bowles, DI Helen Smithers and PSE Isobel Gibson for their work on putting the case together after "trawling through" hundreds of hours of video footage.

He also praised paramedics and hospital staff.

Detective Constable Mark Butler, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “Deeprose knew he was likely to cause serious harm to those he drove towards and it is only by chance that we were not dealing with fatalities.

“Nonetheless, one of the victims suffered life-changing injuries and many of those involved would have been traumatised by this appalling incident.

“I would like to commend the victims and witnesses who have supported our investigation throughout and ensured this dangerous individual is now serving a lengthy prison sentence.

“The staff at the public house and the victims’ friends should also be congratulated for the first aid they gave to the two injured men immediately after the incident, and the subsequent assistance they provided to the emergency services”.