Two thugs have been jailed for a vicious attack that left a dad-of-two looking “like a rag doll”.

David Kwiatkowski and Sebastian Wrzeszczynski repeatedly punched and kicked Tomasz Malewicz outside his home in Sturla Road, Chatham, fracturing a cheekbone and breaking his arm.

Kwiatkowski was sentenced to five years and Wrzeszczynski to four years.

Kwiatkowski, of Ordnance Terrace, Chatham, denied causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but was convicted. Wrzeszczynski, 30, of Canal Road, Strood, admitted the offence.

Maidstone Crown Court heard neighbour Kenneth Rose tried to help the victim by stepping between him and his attackers, but they moved around him and continued the onslaught.

“He hoped his presence would calm things down but it didn’t work,” said prosecutor Gary Pons. “Mr Malewicz was hit twice.

“She thought the attack was so severe that her husband was going to die” - prosecutor Gary Pons

“He fell to the floor and was kicked to the head with such force that Mr Rose described it as being similar to a footballer taking a penalty.

“He said he looked like a rag doll. He was lifeless and looked unconscious. He thought Mr Malewicz was going to be killed.”

Kwiatkowski, 26, claimed that although he was present on September 1 last year, he neither kicked nor punched Mr Malewicz.

The two Polish men had been invited to a barbecue at Mr Malewicz’s home by his lodger.

Trouble flared in the back garden when Mr Malewicz’s wife Maria asked them to leave at the end of the evening.

They refused and pushed Mr Malewicz off a chair. Mrs Malewicz was also pushed in the chest, causing her to slip to the floor.

The violence moved into the road. Mrs Malewicz tried to protect her husband as he was attacked.

“She thought the attack was so severe that her husband was going to die,” said Mr Pons.

When Mr Rose saw his neighbour he had blood all over his face and T-shirt and was slumped against a car.

“While he was being kicked in the back, the other was punching and kicking him,” said Mr Pons.

“It may not become clear which man was which, but the prosecution say it doesn’t matter because both were acting together to inflict as much violence as they could upon Mr Malewicz.”

Judge Michael Carroll told Wrzeszczynski through an interpreter that he was more culpable. Kwiatkowski joined in and kicked the victim when he was down.