A Sidmouth man and his friend have been jailed for a brutal attack on a late-night drinker whose face was shattered by repeated kicks and stamps.

Kai Webb, aged 27, of Bowd, Sidmouth, and Lewis Botfield, aged 26, of Heathfield in Newton Abbot, knocked their victim Matthew Capel unconscious and continued attacking him as he lay motionless on the ground.

Mr Capel was left permanently scarred from multiple fractures of his cheekbones, nose and eye sockets which needed hospital treatment. He had to take four weeks off work, and the injuries have permanently affected his vision.

 Exeter Crown Court heard that attack behind the Golden Lion pub in Newton Abbot followed an exchange of words between two groups who were out drinking on July 21, 2021, shortly after the end of the third Covid lockdown.

 The two attackers originally faced the serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but the jury were unable to agree on a verdict and the prosecution chose not to have a retrial after consulting with the victim.

 The pair both admitted the lesser offence of causing grievous bodily harm at an earlier hearing. Webb also admitted possession of a knife in Newton Abbot on September 8, 2021 and causing actual bodily harm to a woman in Sidmouth on May 3, 2022.

He was jailed for three years and seven months, and Botfield for 15 months, by Judge Stephen Climie at Exeter Crown Court.

He told them: “This assault happened when entirely innocent members of the public were out trying to enjoy themselves after the pandemic. Violence of this nature in the street is completely unwarranted and must be met with immediate imprisonment.”

 The court heard that Mr Capel had been out with a group of friends and had encountered Botfield and Webb, who were both drunk, near the Golden Lion. One of Mr Capel’s group took Webb’s rucksack because Webb had mentioned a knife and he feared that Webb was armed.

This led to a running confrontation between Mr Capel’s group and the two men at around 11.20 pm which culminated in the attack.

 Mr Lee Bremridge, for Webb, said he accepts that a jail sentence is inevitable and has been doing well in prison while on remand. He is a trained chef who hopes to find work and accommodation when he is released.

 Miss Mary McCarthy, for Botfield, said he had not initiated the attack, which lasted just 13 seconds and could not be said to be prolonged or persistent. He is completely ashamed of what he did and has deep regret that his family had to watch the CCTV while supporting him in the public gallery.