TWO thugs have been banned from entering Clacton for five years after a “horrible attack” on a homeless man, and others who rushed to help him.

Reece Mashiter, 22, of Cherry Tree Avenue, Clacton and Lyam Corbett, 26, of Edith Road, Clacton were sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday, May 3, after admitting affray and grievous bodily harm.

The attack, which took place on November 8, 2014, saw Corbett and Mashiter, along with a third defendant who is now dead, target a homeless man in Clacton High Street.

Kate Abel, prosecuting, said: “The crown accepted the third defendant, who has died, was the main aggressor.

“In the High Street during the afternoon the men took umbrage when they saw Mr Fogarty. He was asking for money sitting outside Sainsbury’s.

“It was evident the three of them surrounded him. A lot of people passing by got involved. The primary victim, Alan Cheek, saw Mr Fogarty being manhandled, he challenged Mr Nicholson the group and felt a blow to his face and cheek. The others then joined in the attack and was knocked him to the ground.”

Mr Cheek suffered a fractured cheek bone and bruising to his eye and nose after being kicked and punched. Members of the public who stopped to help were also pushed and prevented from calling the police.

Catherine Bradshaw, mitigating for Corbett , told the court there had been a positive change in him.

She said: “He said there’s one part of him that would like to not be in prison but it would end up with him shoplifting to feed his drug habit.

“He speaks highly of support while in remand at Chelmsford and wants a few months in custody to continue getting that support.”

Kate Chidgey, mitigating for Mashiter, explained the 22-year-old suffered from depression after a “difficult childhood” and is on medication.

He has since moved to east London with his aunt but is not well enough to work.

Sentencing, Judge Lynch QC described the attack as “horrible”.

She said: “First of all you have the homeless man have the seven bells knocked out of him, what does he have that’s worth taking?

“You were picking on people. It was disgraceful behaviour and you should be thoroughly ashamed.”

Corbett was handed a 12-month sentence for affray and 12 months for inflicting grievous bodily harm, to run consecutively. He will serve 12 months.

Mashiter was given nine months for affray and nine months for the attack on Mr Fogarty, to run consecutively as a suspended sentence for two years.

Both men are banned from entering Clacton for five years.