A THUG who deliberately drove his car at another youth, breaking his leg in two places, has been sentenced to three years youth custody.

Stephen Miseldine was told by a judge he had only just escaped being locked up indefinitely under a sentence for public protection.

The 19-year-old, of John Street, Rochester, was sentenced with James Smith, 21, and Craig Prior, 21, who admitted affray.

Smith, of Shakespeare Road, Gillingham, was sentenced to five months youth custody and Prior, of Georgian Way, Wigmore, Gillingham, to five months prison suspended for two years.

Prior will also have to complete 100 hours unpaid work and be electronically tagged and under a curfew for six months.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how trouble started outside Amadeus night club in Strood on January 6 last year.

Miseldine, Smith and Prior arrived in a car and got out holding weapons, including an umbrella and golf club, and threatened Ray Barrett and friends.

Judge James O’Mahony said Mr Barrett, who was studying to be a solicitor, was struck. “No doubt, at least some of you were fuelled with drink and drugs,” he said.

Miseldine then drove a car at speed, effectively using it as a weapon, onto the pavement where “hapless” Mr Barrett was. He was trapped between the car and a post, causing the double fracture.

“The fact is, you could have killed him,” the judge told Miseldine, who admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm and affray.