Three former nightclub bouncers have been jailed after a "sickening" assault in Gravesend which left a man's ear hanging off after he was stabbed in the head.

Denis Thompson, 36, of Malyons Road, Lewisham, was jailed for six years for grievous bodily harm with intent.

Alex Jetha, 27, of Vicarage Road, Strood, was jailed on Friday (May 30) for five years and eight months after he was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent and actual bodily harm at Maidstone Crown Court.

Eduard Osipovs, 38, of Queen Street, Gravesend, was also jailed for 20 months for actual bodily harm.

The trio had attacked the two men hours after ejecting them from The Grove nightclub, in The Grove, Gravesend.

The two victims had been trying to enter the club with another man and three women at around 3am on November 11 2012 when an argument with door staff broke out and they were told to leave.

The group returned to Ingoldsby Road, Gravesend, before the two victims and the other man left again in a white BMW to go to a fast food restaurant near the nightclub.

As they were driving away from the takeaway, they noticed three cars following closely behind them.

The victims pulled over in Rose Avenue and their attackers got out their own vehicles and began smashing the windows of the BMW with batons.

The trio then dragged the victims from the car and attacked them.

One of the victims was hit several times with the batons and also struck with a knife, which cut his ear so badly it had to be stitched back together.

The second victim was hit several times around the head before he managed to run away.

Jetha, Thompson and Osipovs were all arrested between 17 and 21 November.

Kent Police detectives then began building a case against them and, following months of investigation, charged them all with assault on April 18 last year.

Investigating officer, DC Deborah Cummings of Kent Police, said: 'This was a sickening attack on two defenceless men that left both with serious injuries, including extensive cuts, swelling and bruising. The first victim also suffered multiple stab wounds.

"Even worse than the physical toll, though, is the impact these assaults have had on the victims emotionally.

"Both are traumatised and should be praised for their bravery in coming forward and supporting a prosecution against three men who showed no regard for their welfare when they attacked them with a number of different weapons.

"While we may never know what provoked the former bouncers to attack the victims, it is possible it all stemmed from a petty argument over payment at the door earlier in the evening.

"We will not tolerate violence on our streets and will use every tool at our disposal to track down those who think they are above the law and bring them to justice."