TWO soldiers have avoided jail, despite being caught on camera kicking, punching and stamping on two men.

Shaun Smith, 25, and Jason Collins, 22, were based at Catterick Garrison barracks in North Yorkshire when the attack took place in April last year.

WARNING: Some viewers may find this footage disturbing.

Teesside Crown Court heard Smith and Collins had been out drinking into the early hours, when they discovered they were unable to return to their barracks, then came across their victims - James Wormald and Mark Thompson - who they said provoked them.

Smith, a guardsman with the Scots Guards, stamped 18 times on one of the victims, while Collins, a Welsh Guardsman, repeatedly punched him, before both chased a second man and beat him to the ground, in an attack which was caught on camera.

Detective Constable Andy Palmer, of Northallerton Serious Crime Team, said: "This is the most violent piece of CCTV footage I have seen in 10 years as a police officer and it is extremely fortunate that the victims in this case were not more seriously injured.

"This case highlights the horrors of alcohol fuelled violence and is even more shocking given that the defendants were, up until this incident, of good character. I hope that people watch this footage and realise just what can happen if they do not stay in control when they are out drinking."

York Press:

Judge Jamie Hill QC, at Teesside Crown Court called the attack "a deeply unpleasant and inexcusable incident", and said it was "a major surprise" the victim who was stamped on suffered nothing more than bruising.

York Press:

The court heard the Army still trusted both men, and Collins had guarded Buckingham Palace since the incident. Two of their superior officers told the court they wanted Smith and Collins to return to work.

For committing actual bodily harm, Smith was given a 12-month sentence suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and pay £1,000 in compensation.

Collins was given a 12-month community order for committing ABH, and also ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation.