THREE York men who attacked, kicked and stamped on their victim in an unprovoked and drink-fuelled city centre attack have been sentenced to a total of 14 years behind bars.

Ryan Cross, 19, of Alness Drive, Woodthorpe, Robert Hodson, 18, of Parker Avenue, Acomb, and Kyle Illingworth, 20, of Cornlands Road, Acomb, appeared at York Crown Court for sentencing yesterday.

Illingworth and Hodson had previously pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent while Cross denied it, but was found guilty after a trial. Nick Barker, prosecuting, said that in the early hours, Benjamin Allerton had been for a night out with his sister and friends.

But he had split up from them because he wanted to get some food.

Walking down King Street, he came across Hodson, Illingworth and Cross.

Cross punched him to the ground and kicked him while he was down.

Illingworth then stamped repeatedly on Mr Allerton’s head and body. Finally, and while Mr Allerton was possibly unconscious, Hodson stamped on him one more time.

The three ran off, but were later arrested.

Mr Allerton was taken to hospital and needed surgery for a fractured cheek bone. He said he remembered nothing about the attack.

In mitigation, Cross was said to have fallen in with the wrong crowd after having a promising future. He started using mephedrone and his personality changed. But the court was told he had since tried to sort his life out.

The offence was said to have been out of character for Hodson, and he was very drunk at the time of the attack. The court heard Illingworth had a long record of violence and dishonesty but had recently become a father and now appreciated that if he continued offending, his life would slip by.

But Judge Anthony Kelbrick described the attack as “gratuitous violence”.

He said: “Each of you stamped on the head or the body of the victim. There was no reason at all for the use of this gratuitous violence. It was disgraceful conduct for which you must be punished.

“The effect on Mr Allerton, both physically and mentally is likely to last for the rest of his life. Has he lost the right to enjoy an evening out without the thuggish, loutish behaviour of you three?

He sentenced Cross to five years in a young offenders’ institute. Hodson and Illingworth were given credit for pleading guilty and were sentenced to four years six months each, also in a young offenders’ institute.