Jail for gang who beat drug dealer senseless

The three men set upon 46-year-old Kevin Hutchinson, of Cooper Drive, after one of the attackers, Joseph Reilly, 34, learned Hutchinson had dealt drugs to his son.

Joseph Elt, 34, John McEwan, 27 and Reilly were convicted of intent to cause grievous bodily harm at a trial in Lewes Crown Court in January. A second charge of kidnapping against all three men was ordered to lie on file.

Sentencing on Monday, Judge Guy Anthony told Elt, of Bexhill, who pleaded guilty, and McEwan, of Hastings, who pleaded not guilty, theirs was a "wholly unjustified and unjustifiable level of violence".

Elt will serve a minimum of four years and two months in jail, and McEwan at least four years. The savage nature of their attack means both sentences have no automatic right of release. The pair can be kept in prison for longer if they do not satisfy a parole board they are no longer a threat to the public.

On Monday, the court heard Elt, McEwan and Reilly bundled Hutchinson into a Fiat Punto and drove up a farm track off nearby Buckholt Lane on July 26, 2007.

Hutchinson, who has since recovered, was kicked and punched throughout the journey, and the beating continued when the kidnappers threw him out of the car in some woodland.

Rob Hall, prosecuting, told the court Elt clubbed Hutchinson with a fence post as well as aiming kicks to his head and stomach.

Reilly, who also pleaded guilty, was given a lighter sentence in return for evidence implicating McEwan and Elt. In the courtroom his partner broke down in tears on hearing he would serve at least half of a three-and-a-half year jail term before being released on licence.

Rossano Scamardella, defending Reilly, said he had risked serious reprisal by giving evidence against Elt and McEwan.

Detective Inspector Ian Williams, of Bexhill Police, said: "These men committed some very serious crimes and the sentence of the court reflects this, in particular the Indeterminate Public Protection sentence for two of them recognises the threat they pose to the community."