A group of drunken yobs who violently attacked a man in a busy town centre narrowly avoided an immediate prison sentence for their ‘disgraceful’ behaviour.

Twins Dylan and Charlie Grayson along with their friends Kyle Knighton and John Goddard kicked and punched the man when they launched their unprovoked attack.

Moments earlier, one of the group punched another man in a nearby bar before becoming embroiled in the fracas, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The four defendants, all aged 21 and from Spennymoor, were drinking heavily while some of their group were also taking cocaine during the night out in Darlington.

CCTV footage of the brutal attack on the victim while he was in the Market Square was shown to the judge sitting at Teesside Crown Court.

Anthony Pettengell, prosecuting, said the victim was repeatedly kicked and punched during a prolonged unprovoked attack by all four men.

He said: “The victim was seen by a doctor at Darlington Memorial Hospital who found injuries including a laceration to the upper lip, bruising to the chest wall, abdomen, forearm and knees.”

In a victim personal statement, the man who was repeatedly kicked and punched said the attack had left him unable to attend his step-daughter’s graduation ceremony and had an impact on his holiday.

He added: “I’m in shock after the incident and I can’t believe what happened. I was out with my family having a nice night.

“It was a totally unprovoked attack and it has affected my confidence.”

Mr Pettengell said one of the group had earlier walked into the Vault bar in the Market Square and punched a man to the head in another unprovoked attack.

Dylan Grayson, of Whitworth Terrace, and Goddard, of Fairview Drive, both pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray when they appeared at magistrates’ court.

While Charlie Grayson, also of Whitworth Terrace, and Knighton, of Rothman Close, entered their guilty pleas when they appeared at crown court.

Michele Turner, representing Charlie Grayson, said her client had got involved in the violence out of misplaced loyalty.

Knighton’s counsel, Victoria Lamballe, said the father-of-one is greatly ashamed of his behaviour on the night.

Dan Cordey, representing Goddard, accepted that his actions were over the top and were ‘disgraceful’ but he has shown that he can stay out of trouble since the incident occurred.

While Amrit Jandoo, representing Dylan Grayson, said his client was ‘absolutely mortified’ by his actions on the night.

Judge Richard Bennett told of the defendants that they had come within a whisker of an immediate prison sentence for their 'disgraceful behaviour'.

“I watched the CCTV footage on a number of occasions so that I could establish what each of you did, you each played a different part but I take the view that you all fall to be sentenced for the same offence,” he said.

“This was clearly a prolonged and persistent assault, and that assault continued when the victim was vulnerable after being put to the ground on several occasions.

“When he was lying on the ground that assault continued and he was left with multiple injuries.

“All of you were either under the influence of alcohol or controlled drugs or both.

"I can't tell you all how close you came to immediate custody today."

Charlie Grayson was sentenced to 15 months in custody suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, attend 25 rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) days and pay £250 in compensation.

Knighton was given the same sentence apart from not having to attend any RAR days.

Dylan Grayson was sentenced to 14 months in custody suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, attend 25 rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) days and pay £250 in compensation.

Goddard was given the same sentence without the RAR days.