THREE of the group were jailed for causing an affray at the cafe.

Hayden Garratt, Joshua Hewes, and John Venn all admitted affray at Upmartket 22 in Burgess Hill.

A charge of manslaughter against them was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.

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Hewes, of Silver Birches, Haywards Heath, and Garratt, of Allen Road, Haywards Heath were jailed for one year, while Venn, of The Highlands, Cuckfield, got one year in a young offenders institution.

Judge Guy Anthony told them: “He said: “I would like to think all three of you share at least lurking doubt that your behaviour may have played a part in the death of Frank Milligan or at the very least feel remorse for having made so unpleasant some of his last few hours and are at the very least genuinely remorseful for your actions rather than simply sorry for the position you find yourselves in, though I am far from certain that is the case.

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“Even putting the death entirely to one side as I must, your behaviour that night was by any standards appalling, drunken, loutish and entirely unprovoked and unnecessary.

“I do not not accept it was simply high spirits as is suggested by one or more of you to probation officers; it was irresponsible, frightening and criminal, something that, now at least, you have all acknowledged.”