Two Monmouth men have been jailed for a vicious attack in which a former rugby player was beaten with an iron bar.

Jamie White and Alex Goodway were part of a gang of youths that set about Steve Townsend after he told them to stop jumping on cars parked in Goldwire Lane.

The service engineer suffered blood loss and was left with bruising all over his body after the attack, which lasted about 10 minutes.

White, aged 21, was jailed for six years on Monday (9th January) after being found guilty of wounding with intent (GBH), affray and escaping lawful custody.

Goodway, aged 17, was sentenced to three years in jail after being found guilty of wounding with intent and affray.

Recorder Jonathan Ferris lifted reporting restrictions preventing Goodway being named in the press.

He said he had to balance the needs of Goodway with "the rights of the public who need to know who committed this very serious offence".

In mitigation for White, David Martin said: "People of his age make very silly decisions and mistakes.

"He left school very young. He needs to grow up and keep away from any kind of criminal activity."

Tracey Lloyd-Nesling, for Goodway, said the teenager was not the ringleader.

"He was 16 at the time, his co-defendant was 20 and the 'young man in the baseball cap' described by witnesses was 19.

"Referees including an army officer, prison officer and college principal say this offence was out of character.

"Alex's family, most of his friends and his girlfriend do not have a background in criminal offending."

On 2nd July last year, White and others were jumping on cars in Goldwire Lane, watched by a group of youths including Goodway.

Mr Townsend was walking home from The Green Dragon pub with his girlfriend when he saw the youths and told them to stop.

He carried on walking but was followed by White, who punched him in the face.

Mr Townsend grabbed White by the arm but was soon set upon by others. He and his girlfriend were pushed over a low fence, but Mr Townsend was attacked again as he tried to help her.

"To witnesses, it looked as though the attack was over," said Mr Ferris, sentencing White.

"But you had gone to look for a weapon and you came back with a three-foot metal pole from the back of a bungalow.

"You swung it towards Mr Townsend and hit him with the pole. He grabbed it and tried to disarm you, but your co-defendent and another boy joined in the assault using pole, fists and boots."

White, Goodway and an unnamed youth took it in turns to hit Mr Townsend with the pole as he lay unconscious or semi-conscious on the ground.

The assault carried on, despite the efforts of members of the public, until police arrived.

Mr Ferris said White and Goodway had not co-operated with police and had told lies to the jury, who had returned unanimous guilty verdicts.

He told White: "There is no doubt you were the ringleader – you started the attack and you re-started it by using the metal pole."

White was sentenced to six years in jail for wounding with intent, two years to run concurrently for affray and one month for escaping lawful custody, also to run concurrently.

Mr Ferris said White's use of drugs including crack, valium and amphetamines, combined with alcohol misuse, increased the risk of him causing harm to others.

He said White had committed crimes including assaults on police officers while on licence, extending his licence period at the end of this jail term by three years.

Mr Ferris said he had also considered handing an extended sentence to Goodway, as the assault had been "so violent and unrestrained by any feeling for a fellow human being".

He did not because of Goodway's age, his lack of similar previous convictions and because he did not start the fight.

"There is no significant risk of harm by you but it was a close call," said Mr Ferris.

Goodway was given a three year jail sentence for wounding with intent and 18 months for affray, to be served concurrently.