A teenager who violently attacked passers-by in a series of unprovoked and senseless assaults has been jailed.

Ethan Broderick-Porter set upon several people "simply going about their business" in Margate in the evening of violence - repeatedly kicking one man in the head with the help of another yob.

On the evening of Friday, January 14, the 19-year-old had been in the town centre with a group of young people, including accomplice Charlie Parker, 18.

Broderick-Porter ran up behind the first victim, a man in his 60s, in Queen Street and dragged him to the ground.

Both he and Parker, 18, then kicked the man in the head and back, causing multiple injuries.

The pair then left the scene but Broderick-Porter later returned to Queen Street, where he punched another man who was walking along the pavement, causing a cut to the man’s face.

Broderick-Porter, of Northdown Road in Cliftonville, then punched a third man at least three times, again causing cuts to the victim's face.

"Residents should not have to put up with violent, nuisance teenagers like these two..."

Officers attended and arrested Broderick-Porter, while a crowd gathered around them.

As officers attempted to get him into a police car, he kicked one of the officers in the face, causing facial injuries.

Parker was identified on CCTV and arrested a week later.

On Wednesday, Broderick-Porter was jailed for 23 months at Canterbury Crown Court, after admitting attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assault and assaulting an emergency worker.

Parker, of Victoria Road, Margate, who took part in the first attack, was sent to a Young Offenders' Institution for 10 months.

"The motivation for these assaults has not been explained beyond these two offenders' wishes for violence..."

Thanet District Commander, Det Ch Insp Matthew Smith, said: "The motivation for these assaults has not been explained beyond these two offenders' wishes for violence.

"The victims in this case were simply going about their business when attacked without any warning.

"Residents of Margate and visitors should not have to put up with violent, nuisance teenagers like these two offenders and I am pleased they have both now been removed from the streets.

"I would like to praise the bravery of the officers who arrested Broderick-Porter despite his actions towards them, and I am pleased a swift investigation has led to a quick conclusion of this case at court."