A TRIO who went on a violent alcohol-fuelled rampage in Cheltenham town centre have been jailed.

Nine people were attacked in a series of violent attacks by James Brooke, Christopher Evans-Parkin and Thomas Hawtin, Gloucester Crown Court heard.

The court heard that on the evening of May 26 last year, the gang:

■ Attacked two Polish men in a pub in Bath Road

■ Punched a man walking in the street with his girlfriend

■ Punched another man in Lower High Street

■ Punched a third man in Suffolk Parade

■ Attacked four men in Cheltenham town centre

Recorder Simon Hall said it had been a "terrifying" evening for people in the town who had been enjoying a night out. Jailing the three men, he said: "The streets of Cheltenham are entitled to be kept free of this kind of thuggery."

Brooke, 21, of Tudor Lodge Drive, Cheltenham, pleaded guilty to violent disorder, assault causing actual bodily harm, common assault, theft, fraud and two driving offences.

He was jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Evans-Parkin, 20, of Suffolk Square, Cheltenham, and Hawtin, 22, of Princess Elizabeth Way, Cheltenham, both admitted violent disorder, burglary and taking a car.

Evans-Parkin received an 18-month term at a young offenders' institute and Hawtin was jailed for 12 months.

David Martin, prosecuting, said the violent disorder charge covered a continuing series of events on May 26, 2009.

Two Polish men were drinking in a pub in Bath Road when Brooke and Evans-Parkin asked them for cigarettes, which they were given.

"The men went to leave and as they did so one was punched by Brooke and then by Evans-Parkin. His friend intervened and he was also punched," said Mr Martin.

Brooke then approached a man and his girlfriend in the street and punched the man, said Mr Martin. Later a man who was walking home in the Lower High Street saw three men run from an alley.

"One of them, again Mr Brooke, punched this man in the face – causing damage to seven of his teeth – which has needed extensive treatment," Mr Martin said.

A short time later, a man was walking in Suffolk Parade when he was approached by three men and one of them offered a handshake.

"But as he went to shake hands, he was punched on the side of the head," said Mr Martin.

Four more men were also attacked within a short time, he said. Later Brooke told police he had taken crack cocaine and ketamine that night for the first time in his life.

Nigel Hall. for Brooke, said he suffered from ADHD and would not have carried out the assaults of his own accord.

"There were three people present at each of the assaults," he went on. "When he has drunk too much alcohol and taken illicit drugs, and someone suggests he hits someone, he does it."

Eric Waley, for Evans-Parkin, said he had gone off the rails a couple of years ago after a friend died at a young age and then his grandfather, who brought him up, also died.

Robert Duvall for Hawtin, said his involvement in the disorder had been very minor.

OPINION, P8