A thug from Swanscombe has been jailed after stabbing a man in a pub fight.

Ricky Blackwell, 24, punched one man in the face and fractured his jaw during a confrontation at the Wheatsheaf in Swanscombe High Street.

Blackwell, of The Grove, was then driven by a 69-year-old man to Churchill’s pub in Chatham.

Holding a knife, Blackwell got out of the car and there was a fight between him and 28-year-old Barry Pozzoli which resulted in Blackwell stabbing Pozzoli in the leg.

Blackwell then drove away, leaving the 69-year-old at the scene.

Two other men then got involved, with Aaron Smith, 22, throwing a glass bottle at the car as Blackwell drove away and then punching the 69-year-old man in the back of the head.

Smith then kicked the older man as he lay on the floor.

As members of the public tried walk the 69-year-old man away, Jason Holmes, 45, barged him over before kicking and stamping on his head.

Smith then dragged the man along the floor, with Holmes again stamping on the victim’s head and kicking him.

The 69-year-old suffered serious internal injuries and spent a month in hospital.

Four men were sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court today (April 3).

Blackwell was jailed for nine years after pleading guilty to two charges of GBH. He will serve a further five years on an extended licence.

Smith, from Chatham, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to GBH.

Holmes, from Sheerness, was sentenced to five years and four months after pleading guilty to GBH.

Pozzoli, from Chatham, was sentenced to six months after pleading guilty to assault and a public order offence.

Detective Sergeant Lynn Lewis, from Kent Police, said: “The offenders in this case have subjected their victims to shocking amounts of violence and it is fortunate that the results were not as serious as we feared they could have been at the time.

“Their actions are completely reprehensible and the sentences imposed are entirely appropriate.”