TWO men who inflicted an “unprovoked and sustained attack” on two students as they walked home from a night out have been jailed.


Jamie Risdale, 23, of Somerdale Avenue, Bristol and Nathan Cotterell, 25, of no fixed abode, were jailed for 16 months and six months respectively at Bristol Crown Court.


Risdale and Cotterell targeted two students as they walked home from a night out on Corn Street at approximately 2.30am 5 June 5.


Without reason Risdale crossed the street and punched one of the students, knocking him to the floor before kicking and stamping on his head, neck and body.


Cotterell also ran at the students and punched the other victim to the ground before fleeing in a car with Risdale.


Officers managed to track down the pair to an address in the Horfield area of the city after one of the students, despite being badly beaten, managed to take down the car’s registration.


Detective Constable Richard O’Brien said: “This was a totally unprovoked and sustained attack on two students enjoying their last night out in Bristol prior to the summer holidays.


“What Risdale and Cotterell did was both shocking and traumatic for the victims and it is thanks to their bravery that we managed to track these two violent men down and arrest them.


“It is important to stress this was a rare event in Bristol and the students were extremely lucky not to have suffered with more serious injuries.”