A GROUP of men have been sent to prison after punching a gay man and bottling someone from Eastern Europe in two “unprovoked” and “vicious”attacks.

On Friday Bradley Brachman, Andrew Wilson and Rhys Pryer were each handed four year prison sentences for grievous bodily harm, and a year for actual bodily harm to run consecutively.

Brachman, of Egmont Road, Hove, and Rhys Pryer, of Wilfrid Road, Brighton, both 19 and unemployed, were remanded in custody with painter Andrew Wilson, of Manor Hill, Brighton, after being found guilty of carrying out the attacks at the end of an 11-day trial at Brighton Crown Court in October.

Wilson was also found guilty of the theft of a mobile phone and will serve another six month sentence concurrently.

The men attacked a 40-year-old Eastern European with bottles just before midnight on August 16, 2013 at the junction of Edward Street and Dorset Place, striking him several times on the head which has left permanent scarring after hospital treatment.

Then they hurled homophobic abuse at a 34-year-old man before punching him and chasing him across Old Steine to the bus stops near Pavilion Gardens where they continued the assault. He was taken to hospital and his wounds required stitching. Wilson snatched the victim’s phone while he tried to call the police.

In court a witness, who was driving past during the first attack and called the police, said if she had intervened in the first incident the man could have been killed.

Judge Anthony Niblett commended her efforts, which provided crucial evidence to the police and she was given £300.

In sentencing them, Judge Niblett said that he was satisfied that they targeted the first man due to him being eastern European and yet they had not attacked his English friend who was with him. Similarly, they attacked their second victim for no other reason than being gay.

Detective constable Chris Bishop received a formal commendation for the care that he had given to the victims and the "expert and thorough" investigation he carried out.