A STREET drinker who set about a man with a beer can in town centre mugging has been jailed for three years.

Christopher Goodbun used his drink container as a weapon to attack his victim before getting him in a head lock.

Then when he went to the ground the 28-year-old kicked him to the head as he continued the violent attack.

And while the man was down he persuaded fellow drinker Steven Rusling, who was jailed for 18 months, to rifle through the victim's pockets for his phone.

Goodbun and Rusling, 37, were drinking on a bench near Wilko's at the bottom of town when they turned on the other man on Friday June 10.

A judge at Swindon Crown Court was shown CCTV footage of the attack on the vulnerable victim, who was also drunk.

Goodbun and Rusling, both of the Culvery Court hostel on Harding Street, pleaded guilty to robbery.

As a result of the attack the victim has had to move away from Swindon, the court was told, and find new work.

Passing sentence Judge Peter Blair QC told Goodbun: "You used what appeared to be a beer can to start towards this man, who you got in a headlock and then plainly used your feet which had shoes on them, plainly as a weapon, to his head when he was on the ground.

"That is extremely dangerous. I have been involved over the years in cases where people have died as a result of that conduct.

"Plainly you were playing the leading role, under the influence of alcohol, and plainly from the previous behaviour shown on that DVD you targeted that man for his vulnerability through drunkenness.

"In your case Steven Rusling you plainly had a secondary role You were persuaded eventually by what one sees on the film by Mr Goodbun to participate."

Det Con Carl Jones said: “This robbery was a particularly nasty incident, where the suspects were caught on CCTV, attacking an innocent member of the public.

“It occurred in a very busy part of town during the evening, with people all around.  

“The violence shown on the CCTV, of smashing a beer can into the face of the victim was horrific and the sentencing of these suspects is more than justified.

“Even when they refused to answer questions in interview the sheer weight of the CCTV evidence and those witnesses who came forward to give evidence, meant they had no choice but to plead guilty at court.

“I would like to thank all those people who contacted the police, as this ensured the right outcome.”