Three locked up after brutal Telford attack over a pint of beer

Jamie Owens could have been killed in the attack launched by Brad Perkins, Jamie Rhodes and Jason Williams after they chased him through Oakengates, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told.

Judge John Gosling told the trio they had acted like thugs when they attacked Mr Owens in the early hours of July 4 last year.

"Whether someone has minor injuries or dies from this kind of attack is pure chance," he told them.

Mr Geoffrey Dann, prosecuting, said Mr Owens had been out been out drinking in Wellington and then Oakengates, where he left a club at 5am and realised he was being followed. He changed route but was still being followed and then dived into bushes to try to hide. But he was then set upon by the three men who kicked and punched him to the head. As they started to leave Perkins went back, stamping on Owens as he lay on the ground.

People living nearby saw the attack, contacted police and the defendants were arrested nearby.

Perkins, 20, of Parkdale, Telford, was yesterday jailed for 20 months. Rhodes, 18, of Lincoln Village, and Williams, 19, of Church Street, Hadley, were each given 14 months' custody in a Young Offenders' Institute.

All three had admitted unlawful and malicious wounding at earlier hearings.

They will have to serve a minimum of half their sentences before being released on licence. Mr Chris Grainger, for Williams, said he understood the incident was over a pint of beer.

He said his client had frightened himself by becoming involved in such an attack and had not been in any trouble since.

Miss Sarah Allen, for Perkins, said her client could not remember much of what had happened and this had been a wake-up call.

Mr Mike Sherwood-Smith, for Rhodes, said his client had acted out of character.