A pair of soldiers have been jailed for launching a sickening attack on a homeless man because they thought he had spent money they gave him in a pub.

Daniel Openshaw, 23, and Michael Salter, 22, had both been drinking heavily when they launched the brutal attack in Warminster town centre.

And the pair will also now be drummed out of the army in disgrace as a result of the 28-month jail sentences they received.

Openshaw and Salter punched homeless beggar Aaron Allen then kicked him on the ground after attacking his dad John.

The soldiers said they had seen the younger man begging as they went to the pub and each gave him some money.

But they claimed they spotted him in the John Barleycorn, where they were drinking, and when they saw him in his sleeping bag later they attacked him.

Claire Marlow, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that the incident on Friday, October 3, at the Three Horseshoes Mall was caught on CCTV.

She said the men first attacked the father, raining punches on him and throwing him to the ground with Openshaw getting on top of him and leaving him with cracked ribs.

They then took turns punching his son and when he went to the ground landed heavy kicks to his face before casually walking off.

When they were questioned the men said they thought he was a 'con artist' for going to the pub after being given cash.

Openshaw, of Bury, Lancashire, and Salter, of Wilton, Salisbury, both pleaded guilty to two counts of actual bodily harm.

Rob Ross, for Openshaw, said his client felt that the victim had taken advantage of their generosity and approached in their drunken state.

He pointed out that they would lose their jobs in the army should they recieve sentences more serious than community orders.

Mark Ashley, for Salter, said his client had a specialist role in the forces and was the main breadwinner with a wife and child.

Jailing them, Judge Tim Mousley QC said: "Anybody who watched that CCTV footage of what you two did that night would be horrified by your appalling and disgraceful behaviour.

"What you did so far as the assaults are concerned started with Mr Allen senior. That in itself was a violent assault which both of you participated in equally.

"It was prolonged and interpreting the CCTV it seems he got away from you. Looking back at what was being done to his son he felt unable to go back and assist his son because of the level of violence you were using.

"I then turn my attention to Aaron Allen who was a vulnerable person. The assault you carried out upon him was prolonged.

"I am satisfied it was your intention to cause more serious harm than you did. One of you said to the police that you want to render him unable to get up.

"We all know that that type of behaviour is just the type of behaviour that doesn't just cause serious injury but can cause death.

"I have to bear in mind that at the time you were both serving soldiers and were aware of the type of damage that can be done. This was drunken violence and it was prolonged.

"There can be absolutely no justification for what you did to either of these two men. When you were arrested you were interviewed and attempted to justify your actions."