Three thugs have been locked up over the mugging of two teenagers as they walked through a deserted park late at night.

Thomas Hawkins, Nicky Tayler and Paul Pynn had told Hunter Smith, 16, and Alex Peters, 17, they would show them the way to a Rochester nightclub.

But they and others pounced in the darkness and left them battered. Mr Smith suffered concussion and ended up in intensive care.

Pynn, then 16, had at the time almost completed a Prince's Trust placement.

Tayler, 18, was sentenced to 15 months' youth custody, Pynn, now 17, to eight months' detention and training and Hawkins, 19, to six months' youth custody.

Tayler, of Madhuran Court, London Road, Strood, admitted two offences of actual bodily harm; Hawkins, of Frindsbury Road, Rochester, one offence of actual bodily harm; and Pynn, of Station Road, Strood, admitted one offence of robbery.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the victims had been to The Cricketers pub, in Rainham, on January 19 last year and then went to the train station.

"He feels a great deal of shame for what he did. He was in tears when remanded in custody about letting people down..." - Henry Gordon, defending

Prosecutor Mary Jacobson said on the train they got into conversation with a group of people, including the defendants, and told how they wanted to go to the Casino Rooms.

"They got off the train together in Rochester and the group of males said they would guide them to the nightclub," she said. "They were taken over a route which went through the Great Lines park, a dark open space."

Miss Jacobson said Pynn punched Mr Smith to the head, knocking him down, and demanded: "Give me your wallet and your phone."

Mr Smith fought back, but was then hit by Hawkins. He fell down and he was repeatedly kicked and punched in the head. His wallet containing £45 and phone were taken.

Others continued to kick him in the face and back. Mr Peters was grabbed and told to hand over the contents of his pockets. He handed over his wallet and iPhone worth about £400.

As well as concussion, Mr Smith had bruised eyes, swelling to his mouth and back of his head and four chipped teeth. Mr Peters was left with blurred vision in one eye and swelling.

Judge David Griffith-Jones QC said it was rightly described as "a lamentable incident". He added it was "mayhem" and terrifying for the victims.

Henry Gordon, for Pynn, said the teenager joined in when the incident started.

"He feels a great deal of shame for what he did," said Mr Gordon. "He was in tears when remanded in custody about letting people down."

Pynn had almost completed a full-time Prince's Trust placement. He was excelling on it and upset he could not finish it.

"He let his mother down," said Mr Gordon. "He promised her it would be a clean start when he got out. He hadn't long left school and had found some direction in life.

"He wishes to pick up where he left off. He has been on remand for three months. It has been a salutary lesson."

Kieran Brand, for Tayler, said the father-of-one had found his time in custody extremely difficult, but it had also been beneficial as it had inspired him to a level of maturity.

"He struggled to make any changes while he remained in Medway with associates," said Mr Brand. "He plans to move to Suffolk, where his mother lives."

Crispian Cartwright, for Hawkins, said: "On any reckoning this was a lamentable incident and custody is bound to be uppermost in the court’s mind. He is thoroughly ashamed of his record. It is a wretched record.

"He has said with great candour he now looks back on his past behaviour with disgust. He feels remorse. It does appear his time in custody has been beneficial."