A man who was beaten and left for dead says he would rather have died if it meant his attackers were jailed for longer.

Carlo Dawes, who took part in the attack which left Cliff Johnson unconscious, was jailed for three years yesterday.

One member of the six-strong gang ended the attack, in which Mr Johnson was repeatedly kicked and punched, with the chilling words: "Let's go. I think we've killed him."

Dawes, 25, a roofer of Newick Road, Moulsecoomb, Brighton, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and was sentenced at Hove Crown Court yesterday.

Two teenagers, aged 16 and 15, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were given detention and training orders for 12 months and ten months respectively after admitting their parts in the attack.

The other three gang members have never been identified.

Father-of-two Mr Johnson, 43, lost three teeth and suffered skull and rib fractures and blurred vision after the incident in Goodwood Way, Moulsecoomb, in March.

He said he thought he would die in the unprovoked attack, which happened as he left a friend's flat to go home.

He last night reacted with disbelief to the sentence.

He said: "Three years for what they've done is nothing.

"It's a disgrace. He'll be out in just over a year. I would rather have been murdered that day because it seems that's what it will take to save someone else's life in the future.

"Are they going to have to kill someone before a proper sentence is handed out?

"If they'd had a knife, I wouldn't be here today.

"I was left in the street for dead. Some people thought I was.

"Dawes had only just come out of prison when this happened.

"He's not going to worry about one and a half years. This is all wrong."

Nicholas Hamblin, defending Dawes, said his client admitted punching Mr Johnson but denied kicking him on the ground.

Jeffrey Lamb, defending the 16-year-old youth, and Paul Rogers, for the younger teenager, said both admitted assault causing grievous bodily harm.

Seven months on, Mr Johnson is still receiving treatment for his injuries.

He said: "My ribs and nose were broken and I still can't open my jaw properly.

"I have scars underneath my eyes. I was black and blue all over, my teeth were knocked out and my eye split open."

Judge Anthony Scott-Gall said: "The public is sickened by this type of behaviour and I am satisfied that this court has a duty to punish you (Dawes) and deter others who might go around with the intention of attacking other people."