A judge has condemned free alcohol policies at late-night bars after two men were seriously assaulted following a cheap drinks promotion.

Daniel Costello, 21, of Monarch Parade, Mitcham, and James Bryant, 22, of Staverdale Road, Carshalton, appeared at Croydon Crown Court after attacking Matthew Jones and Joe Covington in Chicago’s nightclub, Sutton, on October 26 last year.

Hamish Reid, prosecuting, told the court punters paid a £15 entrance fee to get into Chicago’s and are then entitled to a free drink every 15 minutes.

Judge John Tanzer said: “It clearly doesn’t take very long to get your money back.

"To use the colloquial that these people will understand, it’s an inducement for people to get out of their prams.”

Judge Tanzer was shown a CCTV clip of the incident outside the nightclub, where he saw Bryant kicking Mr Jones while he was on the ground.

He said: “This was an extremely unpleasant assault, and let me make it abundantly clear to you and anyone else who thinks they can go out and drink whatever they want.

“To get into whatever state they feel like and then release their aggressive tendencies on the streets on other human beings, will not be tolerated in south London or anywhere else.”

Mr Reid said a group came out of the Chicago’s at 2am and gathered in Sutton High Street.

Soon afterwards a second group turned up and, according to the prosecutor, words were exchanged and tensions increased.

Mr Reid said: “Costello punched Mr Covington in the head, forcing him to fall on his knees. He continued punching him and the victim lost consciousness for some minutes.

“Mr Jones was then chased down the road. He called 999 and was approached by Bryant and Costello, and was hit in the head by Bryant.

“He fell down and was stamped on while on the ground. The defendants ran off but were arrested nearby.

“In an interview, Bryant said he had been trying to calm the situation down by telling the group to walk away.”

Costello was sentenced to a year behind bars but Bryant had his 12-month sentence suspended for two years, both men pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm.

Costello will also have to complete 200 hours unpaid work and must obey a curfew keeping him indoors from 8pm to 6am for six months.