Thugs who left cyclist Jason Reszeter lying on the ground unconscious after ambushing and attacking him have been put behind bars.

Ben Spiers, 20, Martyn Sampford, 19, and Wesley Coster, also 19, were sent to a young offenders' institution for the attack, described as "cowardly and violent" by recorder Jonathan Ross at Oxford Crown Court.

Spiers and Coster, both of Sherwood Avenue, Abingdon, were each given six months after being convicted last month of causing grievous bodily harm. Sampford, of Brampton Close, admitted a similar charge and was given an 18-month sentence.

The incident took place after the men and Mr Reszeter had been drinking at The Oxford Pub, Oxford Road, Abingdon, in September last year.

Mr Reszeter and Sampford had played pool but fell out over the rules and Sampford claimed he had been called a cheat.

Mr Reszeter left the pub at about 10.30pm and asked the landlady, Marilyn Hollins, to watch out for him because he feared for his safety. Minutes later he was cycling down an alleyway when the three, and another youth who was not named, blocked his route and pulled him off his bike.

Mrs Hollins told police she saw Sampford and the unnamed youth kicking Mr Reszeter in the head while Spiers and Coster kicked his legs. Mr Reszeter lost a tooth and suffered a broken cheekbone. Jonathan Coode, defending Sampford, said he was an intelligent man and also a dad of two young children but became violent when he was drunk.

Zoe Smith, defending Spiers and Coster, said they only kicked Mr Reszeter twice in his legs.

"Both were appalled by the extent of injuries that had been sustained by Mr Reszeter," she said.Mr Ross said: "This was an extremely nasty incident. What should have been regarded as a minor dispute concerning the rules of pool was allowed to escalate into what I consider to be a planned and violent revenge attack.

"Incidents like this occurring outside a public house in a public place will be dealt with severely. They occur all too frequently anMy objective must be to make a warning to those who drink to excess and fail to control their aggression, that they will receive a custodial sentence."

Mr Ross also ordered a £100 reward be made to Mrs Hollins for her part in breaking up the fight and giving evidence in court.

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