TWO Newent thugs, who savagely kicked and stamped on a man's head after they had knocked him down in the street, have been jailed by a judge.

And the court was told that their victim was only trying to protect a young woman from the unwanted attentions of one of his attackers.

Brothers Riley, 23, and 18-year-old Jake Stevens, of Southend Lane, had both drunk more than seven pints of lager that night, Judge William Hart was told at Gloucester Crown Court. Their attack could have left their victim with permanent injuries or even have killed him.

The brothers pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm in the early hours of October 21 last year. Riley was jailed for 18 months and Jake was given an 11 month sentence in a young offenders' institution.

Mary Harley, prosecuting said the brothers' victim had been out for a few drinks with his wife in Newent and finished up in the Red Lion pub.

"A young woman there was being pestered by Riley Stevens but continually turned down his advances," she went on.

"She decided to walk home in the company of the couple, who were walking in the same direction, but Stevens followed and continued to be a nuisance."

The man then told Stevens the girl would be going home with him and his wife, and he turned to walk away.

But he then returned and jumped on her protector, punching him in the face and knocking him to the ground, Mrs Harley said.

Jake Stevens then arrived on the scene and both men punched their victim and kicked him while he was on the ground before stamping on his head.

Riley Stevens then ran at the injured man as he lay in the road and kicked his head.

"His wife thought he was dead and phoned the emergency services as the two brothers walked away," she said.

"Their victim was unconscious and lying in a pool of blood in the road but he had regained consciousness by the time he arrived at hospital in Gloucester."

The man suffered a broken nose, heavy bruising, cuts and abrasions she added, and when arrested, the brothers told police they had each drunk more than seven pints.

In mitigation for both men, Jon Holmes told the judge it had been a savage and vicious assault and the results could have been far more serious.

"These young men and their victim realise they are very lucky it was not," he said.

Passing sentence, Judge Hart said the brothers had both joined in the drunken, cowardly attack.

"This sort of savagery is only too common in the streets of this county and this country. People are appalled by such acts and want those who carry them out to go to prison."