Six men were sent to prison this week after a video showing "appalling violence" in Redruth town centre was shown to Truro Crown Court.

Even before the video was shown, recorder John Williams told all six that if they did not wish to watch it again they could bow their heads or go down to the cells.

Two chose not to watch the three incidents which occurred at about midnight on July 28 last year. Two involved attacks on 30-year-old Terry McDonald and another on 34-year-old Wayne Ball.

The video footage showed the victims being punched and kicked to the ground where their heads were stamped on. During the attack a billiard ball wrapped inside a sock was used.

All six defendants, two of them brothers, received custodial sentences, one of them on his 18th birthday. Recorder Williams referred to the use of the billiard ball as a frightening weapon and said the video showed the most appalling scenes of violence plainly fuelled by drink. It was fortunate the victims were not seriously hurt. Tony Salisbury, aged 22, of no fixed abode, and Edwin Kirkwood, 21, of Clinton Road, Redruth, were each jailed for 27 months and 21-year-old James Robbins, of Ventonraze Terrace, Illogan, for two years.

Sent to a young offenders' institution were Christopher Salisbury, aged 20, of Mount Ambrose, Redruth, for 21 months, and Matthew Maw, 20, of Coronation Road, Illogan, and 18-year-old Jamie Stevens, of Fore Street, Mount Hawke, Truro, for 18 months each.

They had all pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Mrs Gail Hawkley, prosecuting, said it was believed that the incidents started when Tony Salisbury became abusive to a woman who telephoned her boyfriend, Mr McDonald. He was knocked to the ground, punched, kicked and stamped on. Shortly after that incident, ended he was similarly attacked again.

Mr Ball felt compelled to intervene and he was surrounded by the group and was punched and kicked unconscious. Both victims suffered bruising and cuts, Mr Ball being admitted to hospital overnight for observation.

When interviewed, the Salisbury brothers said they had been drinking and, until they watched the video footage, could not believe they had behaved in that way. Stevens said he had drunk eight or nine pints and could not remember the details and Robbins could not recall kicking anyone but that it looked as though they had ganged up on people. Maw and Kirkwood made no comment.

Mrs Hawkley added that Christopher Salisbury and Stevens had no previous convictions but had been cautioned, while the others had previous convictions.

Defence counsel Barrie van den Berg said that Tony Salisbury had been very drunk that evening but stressed that the cowardly attacks did not involve premeditation.

Iain Leadbetter said that Christopher Salisbury and Stevens were genuinely appalled at their behaviour which it was difficult to reconcile with their good work records.

"They are both thoroughly decent, hard working and well liked young men with something to offer," he submitted.

Simon Laws pointed out that Maws had a medical background and had spent nine weeks in custody and that Robbins at the time was essentially of good character and was working hard on a course studying art and design.

Hannah Wiltshire, for Kirkwood, said that he had played no part in the first two incidents. His father had died 17 years ago and his mother was in hospital undergoing a serious operation and needed his support.