A tough-talking judge has said drunken thuggery will not be tolerated on the streets of Brighton.

Judge Cedric Joseph spoke out as he jailed two yobs for starting a brawl at a taxi rank.

He said: “People are entitled to to go out for the evening without being accosted, insulted and assaulted.

“Thuggery of this kind on the streets of Brighton will just not be tolerated.

“Nothing but immediate custodial sentences are appropriate for these offences.”

Gary Dawes, 23, and Luke Kirby, 25, hurled insults at a group as they walked to a taxi rank in East Street in February, 2008.

Rowan Jenkins, prosecuting, said both men threw a series of “haymakers” at victim Gary Manville when he tried to intervene.

His friend Kerry Richardson suffered a black eye when she was hit in the face by Dawes.

Dawes, of Wickhurst Rise, Portslade, who has previous convictions for violence and robbery, admitted affray and causing actual bodily harm.

Kirby, of Thorndean Road, Brighton, who also has previous convictions for violence, pleaded guilty to affray. Both appeared at Brighton Crown Court for sentence yesterday. (fri) Neil Mercer, defending Dawes, said: “He accepts that he punched Miss Richardson but not intentionally.

“He tried to punch someone else but he moved out of the way and the blow hit her.

“He said he would never intentionally hit a woman.”

Brian Shaw, defending Kirby, said: “He went to help a friend and retaliated. He accepts he went over the top.”

Dawes was jailed for 19 months and Kirby was sent to prison for 15 months.