TWO TEENAGERS have been sentenced for a "violent, unprovoked attack" on a council worker that left him with serious injuries.

The Brighton and Hove Council worker, who is in his fifties and lives locally, was approached by three girls in Palace Place shortly before 6am on September 16.

CCTV footage showed the victim being pursued into Castle Square. He then fell to the ground as one of the girls swung punches, and was assaulted by kicks to the body and head, before passersby stepped in to help.

Three suspects were arrested by police nearby shortly after the incident, based on descriptions given by witnesses.

Two of the girls, aged 15 and 16 from Brighton and Crawley respectively, were charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent. The 16-year-old was also charged with assaulting a police officer.

The pair cannot be named due to their young ages.

At Brighton Magistrates Court on Wednesday (January 5), the 15-year-old girl was sentenced to 12 months in prison, to run concurrently with a four-month sentence being currently served for a separate assault.

The 16-year-old was given a 12-month youth offending order and remanded into the care of social services.

Detective Constable Victoria Thornton-Green said: "This was a violent, unprovoked attack that left the victim with serious injuries.

"As a force, we remain committed to tackling youth violence in Sussex, through convictions such as these and by working with our partners in the community to tackle the root causes of this behaviour.

"We would also like to thank the victim, his family and the witnesses who supported our investigation and helped bring these perpetrators to justice."

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