THREE former soldiers have been jailed for a total of 70 months after pleading guilty to causing bodily harm following an attack against three other men in Trowbridge last year.

Ryan Ledger, 25 and Lewis Tate, 29, both of Battersbury Barracks, and Daniel Beckwith, 22 from Darlington, all of whom were serving soldiers at the time of the attack last year on 23 September, admitted their respective parts in the incident at court yesterday at Swindon Crown Court.

Ledger admitted causing grievous bodily harm against two men and actual bodily harm against the third and was sentenced to 26 months.

Tate admitted causing grievous bodily harm to one man and actual bodily harm to another and was sentenced to 24 months.

Beckwith admitted causing actual bodily harm to one man and was sentenced to 20 months.

Ledger, Tate and Beckwith launched an unprovoked and sustained attack in the early hours of the morning on Wicker Hill in Trowbridge on three men aged 41, 46 and 49, who had been out celebrating one of their birthdays.

The three victims offered no violence but were punched and kicked to the ground.

The 41-year-old was knocked unconscious with a single punch and lay motionless for a long period of time. When he arrived in hospital he was placed in a medically induced coma and when he awoke some time later he had suffered multiple fractures to his face.

The 46-year-old man was punched twice and knocked unconscious, he too suffered multiple fractures to his face.

The 49-year-old was kicked, punched and thrown to the floor several times and suffered a sustained attack from all three attackers resulting in numerous cuts and bruises.

DC David Hambly said: “This was a vicious and unprovoked attack by three young, physically fit men against three men who were all older and less physically fit than their assailants.

“After their sustained attack, they fled the scene leaving two of their victims unconscious in the street. If not for the quick thinking of a bystander who placed one of the victims in the recovery position the outcome could have been far worse.

“This was an act of mindless alcohol-fuelled violence which has had a long-lasting effect on the three victims, both physically and psychologically and has also brought to an end the promising careers of the three attackers. I would urge people to drink responsibly and consider the consequences of their actions. I would also like to thank the army whose co-operation has been invaluable during this enquiry and is very much appreciated.”