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One of the thugs who tried to rob two Arsenal players has been filmed pleading for mercy while being attacked in jail by a fellow inmate.

The two-minute clip shows Ashley Smith lying on a cell floor while he was punched repeatedly in the face.

Mirror Online has decided to edit down the shocking footage to minimise the brutality, with career criminal almost losing an eye in the beating on Tuesday.

He is shown begging for the attack to stop after the assailant accused him of robbing a friend’s mum.

Blood-soaked Smith, 30, says: “I can’t see. It wasn’t me. I swear to God it wasn’t me, on my kid’s life.”

The attacker replies: “If you don’t give me a name now you’re dead.”

(Image: Sunday Mirror) (Image: Sunday Mirror)

The footage – captured at HMP Pentonville in North London on a mobile phone that had been smuggled into the jail – was sent from a prisoner to contacts on the outside who then posted it on WhatsApp.

Smith’s lawyer said the crook “fears for his life” after the beating.

The day after the attack Smith, whose wounds have been stitched, appeared in court via videolink with a towel round his head as he pleaded guilty to the attempted robbery of Arsenal stars Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac in July.

(Image: Sunday Mirror)

(Image: PA)

Pentonville is about half a mile from the team’s Emirates Stadium ground.

Smith and accomplice Jordan Northover, 26, brandished knives and a screwdriver as they tried to rob World Cup-winning German star Ozil, 31, and Bosnian international Kolasinac, 26, in a street in Hampstead, North London.

Kolasinac, nicknamed the Tank, fought back, chasing the thugs around Ozil’s car. The footballers managed to speed off unharmed in the Mercedes. Ozil’s wife was also in the car.

(Image: PA) (Image: PA)

They escaped despite the muggers chasing them on a moped.

Smith and Northover were trying to steal watches worth £200,000 in the daytime robbery attempt which was captured on CCTV.

Explaining that Smith wanted to be sentenced as quickly as possible, Susan Meek, defending, told Harrow Crown Court on Wednesday: “As you can see he has a towel around his head because he was attacked last night.

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“He has stitches in his right eye, and he may lose the sight in his left eye. It was made clear to him his life was in danger.

"He is extraordinarily distressed and scared and really wants this to be put to an end as soon as possible.”

The Prison Service said: “An HMP Pentonville prisoner required hospital treatment after an incident on 5 Novem­­ber.

"It would be inappropriate to comm­ent further as police are investigating.”

(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Smith, of Archway, North London, was sentenced on Friday to 10 years in jail. When he tried to rob the footballers, he was on licence from a 42-month sentence for burglary in 2017.

He has 20 convictions, including for assault.

Northover, who is being held at HMP Wealstun, West Yorks, also admitted attempted robb­ery, and will be sentenced at a later date.