TWO young men who were smirking when they appeared in court yesterday have been sentenced for attacking a man in Cirencester. 

Jake Halford, of Springfield Road, Cirencester, and Ben Kilby, of Golden Farm Road, Cirencester, admitted assaulting another man causing bodily harm in Cirencester on August 4 last year.

They also pleaded guilty to damaging the victim's phone on the same date.

Judge Ian Lawrie QC sent the two 21-year-olds down to the cells for two hours before freeing them with community orders which included an alcohol ban and unpaid work at Gloucester Crown Court on Monday, April 15. 

The court heard that the attackers had been drinking with a group of young women moments before the assault.

Prosecutor Meabh McGee said: "The two males punched and kicked the victim 10 to 15 times.

"Kilby grabbed the victim’s phone and threw it onto the road during the unprovoked attack."

While the video was shown to the court Kilby was spotted looking down and smirking in the dock. 

A statement from the victim was read out in court which said that he was “upset and angry about the incident” and suffered a “nasty gash” on his head.

Catherine Spedding, representing Kilby, and Lloyd Jenkins, representing Halford, both said their clients were remorseful.

Spedding added that Kilby has been spending time at his parents’ home since the incident and has only been drinking at home.

At the end of the morning’s hearing the judge ordered them down to the cells for two hours to “have an idea of what your future could be”.

The judge also called out their behaviour in the court and said: “Smirking is not going to help you.”

Kilby must carry out 300 hours of unpaid work while Halford was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work which was added to a 100 hour sentence he is already serving 

Both men also must also abstain from alcohol for 120 days, pay £600 in compensation to the victim plus pay a £114 victim surcharge each. 

The pair were also ordered to attend a rehabilitation activity programme and to return to court on Wednesday, June 12 for the judge to review their progress.