Three drunken yobs confronted a group of burly men in a Sheerness car park late at night - and ended up getting a “pasting”, a court has heard.

David Kennedy was armed with a meat cleaver and Jack Turner brandished a knife as they and Joshua Pattison approached the three men - two from Lithuania and one from Poland.

But CCTV footage showed graphically how the tables were soon turned. Pattison, 18, was able to run off but Kennedy, 37, and Turner, 19, were knocked to the ground and repeatedly punched and kicked.

Mark Dacey, for Turner, told a judge: “Some would say they got their comeuppance. They are lucky to be alive really.”

The “victims” were not prosecuted but the two teenagers were sentenced to youth custody - Turner for nine months and Pattison for seven months.

Sentence on Kennedy was adjourned after he failed to answer bail. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Pattison, of Broad Street, Turner, a scaffolder, of Vincent Gardens, and Kennedy, of High Street, had admitted violent disorder.

Turner and Kennedy also admitted having a bladed article.

Prosecutor Jordan Franks said there were allegations that Kennedy made racist comments and threats but there was no evidence to support them.

He told Maidstone Crown Court that Pattison, Turner and Kennedy went to the Trinity Place car park in the early hours of August 16 last year and walked up to the three men, who were sitting down.

“Mr Turner produced a large kitchen knife, Mr Kennedy was holding a meat cleaver,” said Mr Franks. “The men stood up and tried to disarm them. Mr Pattison ran away.

“Mr Turner and Mr Kennedy were assaulted. They were disarmed, put to the ground and punched and kicked. This went on for a number of minutes.”

CCTV showed Pattison, Turner and Kennedy wearing hoodies as they walked across the car park. Turner can be seen holding out the knife, while Kennedy had the meat cleaver behind his back.

Within seconds, the men retaliated and handed out a severe beating. One stamped on Kennedy several times.

Mr Franks said Kennedy had injuries to his temple, forehead and cheekbone. Turner had a 2-3in cut to his right hand and extensive bruising.

Judge Charles Macdonald told Pattison and Turner: “These three large males were provoked to retaliate. You received a pasting. There has to be a deterrent sentence.”

Mark Dacey, for Turner, said the teenager had made a mistake for the first time in his life.

“For some reason he had a knife with him,” he said. “He can’t remember why he had it or where he got it from.

“The fear by the three men seemed to soon be overcome. He woke up in Medway Hospital.

"He had an imprint of a shoe on his face.” Turner had been to an 18th birthday party and had too much to drink.

“He is ashamed of becoming involved in this,” said Mr Dacey. “His family is devastated.

“Many teenagers make mistakes and get away with it. He knows this mistake will affect him for the rest of his life.”

Mr Dacey said Turner was a committee member at a social club and “not the kind of person you expect to see in the dock”.

He added: “He did get numerous injuries and I am sure some people would say if you play with fire you get burnt.”

Kerry Moore, for Pattison, said his client did not arm himself or brandish a weapon. He fled in fear of his safety.

“He has received a salutary lesson,” he said. “It is a situation where one can look on the merciful side and suspend the sentence.

“There is an extremely low risk he will come before the courts again. He made a grave error and has learnt from it.”

Tom Stern, for Kennedy, said there had been “a frenzied assault” by the three men when they knocked his client and Turner to the ground.

“The threat is neutralised from that moment,” he said. “One is dealing with an air of menace. There is no use of weapons. It is neutralised within 30 seconds by the other men.”

Judge Macdonald said such behaviour was liable to provoke other violence. He told Pattison and Turner: “You two were circling around. When it became apparent your retaliation was going to be ineffective you, Pattison, ran off.

“Turner and Kennedy received a pasting. The mitigation lies in your relatively young ages, positive good character and remorse you undoubtedly feel.

“On the other hand I cannot blind myself to the fact this involved short-term planning. You took bladed articles which were deployed but not used.

“You provoked street violence of some duration. There has to be a deterrent sentence and there has to be immediate custody.”