A youth worker has been jailed after a man was brutally attacked in a chicken restaurant.

Simeon Neill from Sutton was one of four men who beat a man unconscious, leaving him with multiple fractures and a broken nose.

The gang jumped on the man’s head, before rifling through his pockets and making off down the street.

Police investigations later found one of the men was armed with a brick.

The incident took place in the early hours of July 8 last year, at the Morleys Chicken Shop in Brixton Road, Brixton.

Police were called out at 4:08am after reports of a fight, to find a 46-year-old man suffering with severe injuries.

The man was taken to Kings College Hospital in Denmark Hill for treatment.

In spite of the seriousness of the assault, the victim refused to assist police.

Neill, 25, was arrested through police enquiries and forensic evidence recovered from the scene.

He was sentenced to five years and four months at Guildford Crown Court on Friday, July 4, after pleading guilty to committing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Leon Simmonds, 25, and Tesfaye Smith, 27, both from Brixton, were found guilty of committing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Simmonds was handed a nine year sentence, while Smith was jailed for seven years and four months.

Dexter Padmore, 24, from Brockley in southeast London, was found guilty of committing grievous bodily harm with intent and was jailed for six years.

In court three of the men pleaded guilty to their charges, except for Simmonds who pleaded not guilty on the grounds of self defence.

All four have backgrounds as youth workers.

Judge Robert Fraser, sentencing, said: "Whatever provocation, there was no need or necessity for the violence used which can only be described as ferocious.

"It’s remarkable that with this background you went on to commit this offence. You should know better."