TWO Worcester thugs who launched a savage unprovoked attack on two men travelling on a Malvern to Birmingham train with friends have been jailed.

Judge Amjad Nawaz told Anthony Hannay and Ian Merrett it was “disgraceful” behaviour, adding it was “only good fortune” that no one was seriously injured. He said 22-year-old Hannay was aggressive as he verbally abused passenger Michael Powell, simply because he had “looked at him”. The Judge said Merrett, aged 23, was the first to throw a punch at Mr Powell who had done nothing wrong.

“Loutish behaviour like this is sadly becoming all too common,” said the judge. Mr Powell suffered swelling and bruising while his friend David Surr had to have two stitches inserted into a cut to his chin after he too was repeatedly punched.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Surr said the attack had left him worried about attending social gatherings and he now drove to Birmingham instead of taking the train.

Mr Powell said he felt helpless when the two thugs began attacking him and that he had been left badly shaken by the experience, which happened on Saturday, February 28. Stephanie Smith, who was with his group, told police the incident was “really scary”.

Merrett, of Camp Hill Road, Battenhall, Worcester, and Hannay, of Northwick Road, Worcester, both admitted affray and were each sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment. Hannay also admitted a charge of indecent exposure on the train and he was given a further month in jail and told he must register as a sex offender for five years.

The judge said both men had been drunk when they boarded the train with a number of other people.

Warren Stanier, prosecuting at Wolverhampton Crown Court, said Mr Powell and Mr Surr were travelling to Birmingham with three friends when their train stopped in Worcester and a 15-strong gang, including Hannay and Merrett, boarded.

He said Hannay was shouting and screaming as he exposed himself to passengers – an incident that left women passengers extremely shocked.

It was then he decided to pick on Mr Powell and his friends before Merrett got involved and he threw the first punch, sparking off the violence.