Two thugs who beat a Lincoln dad-of-two to a pulp have been locked up for five and a half years each.

Darren Wheeler (19) and Stuart Kisby (18) kicked and stamped on Stephen Swallow (43) for no apparent reason after smoking cannabis during an all-day drinking session.

Mr Swallow, an engineer, was walking through Lincoln city centre after an enjoyable day playing golf followed by a meal and a few beers with a couple of friends.

Lincoln Crown Court heard how he was savagely attacked and left badly injured, covered in his own blood, after Wheeler and Kisby knocked him to the ground.

Wheeler, of St Rumbold Street, Lincoln, and Kisby, of St Botolph's Crescent, Lincoln, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm to Mr Swallow on June 28 this year.

Judge John Machin told them: "This was an appalling episode. What you did was outrageous.

"You embarked upon a savage, wicked, ferocious and repugnant attack on a perfectly innocent citizen.

"You are thugs. You showed no mercy and having attacked him once you returned to attack him again. It was absolutely inexcusable behaviour."

Michael Cranmer-Brown, for Wheeler who had 27 previous convictions, said: "He was drinking heavily and has no recollection of what happened."

Julie Warburton, for Kisby, said: "He has absolutely no recollection of this incident whatsoever."

For the full story and to read Mr Swallow's verdict on the sentencing see Saturday's Lincolnshire Echo.