Three teenage soldiers have been sent to a young offenders' institution for an unprovoked attack on two men.
The Army careers of Ben Duff, Zak Khan and Mark Bannister lay in tatters on Friday after they were sentenced to between three and six months
The CCTV film capturing the assault on Kristian Goodwin and Daniel Rowland was shown in court
Annette Redgrave, prosecuting at Colchester Court, said the incident was "completely unprovoked".
There had been a minor incident, involving the two groups, at Chicago's, Queen Street, Colchester, but it had ended amicably, she said.
As he left the venue, Mr Goodwin felt a blow which knocked him to the ground. He then felt three sets of feet kicking him, the court heard.
His friend was unsuccessful in summoning help from Chicago's door staff and returned to the scene, shouting at the assailants, magistrates were told.
He was then punched in the face, leaving him with a cut to his eye and a bruised and swollen nose.
The bench heard Mr Goodwin's vision was blurred after the attack, and he was unable to work at the time he made a statement to police.
The June 2 affray was admitted, at a previous hearing, by Bannister and Khan, both 18 and of Roman Way Barracks, Colchester, and Duff, also 18, of Winston Road, Newport, Isle of Wight.
James Baird-Murray, mitigating, said: "Terms of imprisonment would bring about almost immediate discharge from the Army. It would bring about the end of a career for each of these young persons."
He said Khan accepted he started the incident, but the video showed the attack to be "a shuffle, rather than a full-blooded kick".
The fact Mr Goodwin suffered "no particular injury" should be taken into account.
All three, he added, were fully-trained soldiers with the Air Assault Brigade, supporting the Parachute Regiment.
Khan, whose family lives in the Outer Hebrides, had "personal and private problems" as had Duff. Bannister had no previous convictions, but made a misjudgment by becoming involved.
After reading pre-sentence reports, bench chairman Barry Wheatcroft said: "This court will not tolerate this sort of behaviour in Colchester.
Khan and Duff were sentenced to six months and Bannister to three months in a young offenders' institution
Published Monday, June 30, 2003
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