Policeman recognised thugs from school days

Two thugs who beat a man unconscious have been jailed after they were recognised by a policeman they had been to school with.

Michael Clark was chased down an alley where he was punched, kicked and stamped on after a row over a spilled drink at the Jubilee Oak pub in Crawley in April last year. He was left with a gaping head wound.

Daryl Small, 22, was jailed for four-and-a-half years and 24-year-old Russell Boczek was given four years. A third man, Lloyd Trewin, 21, was also found guilty of wounding with intent at a two-week trial at the Old Bailey and jailed for four and a half years.

The first two were pupils at the same school as the policeman who recognised them from CCTV footage of the attack.

They were cleared of attacking Mr Clark's friend Luke Attew.

Prosecutor Stephen Shay said Mr Clark suffered a "particularly severe" attack and was repeatedly kicked around the body and head while he lay motionless on the ground.