by Annette Wilson

awilson@thekmgroup.co.uk

Two Canterbury-based Lithuanians who beat up a drunk in a cafe, have been jailed for an incident of appalling violence.
Security camera footage of the fight in the CCCP cafe in Ramsgate showed the victim being punched, a chair being thrown at him and him being repeatedly punched and kicked before his head was stamped on.
Ondrej Horvath suffered no lasting or serious injury but paramedics who attended him could see a large footprint on his left cheek.
Darius Karnisauskas, 24, and Thomas Laurinavicius, 31, both of Alfred Close, Canterbury appeared for sentence at Canterbury Crown Court having both admitted assault causing actual bodily harm in July last year.
Judge James O’Mahony said it was extraordinary there was no lasting injury but the victim was an older man, less fit than the accused, drunk and incapable. “At the time you set about him he was incapable of doing you any harm at all.
“He was hopelessly drunk and incapable when you set about him. You did it with appalling force and violence with fists and both of you putting the boot in.
“A boot applied to a man’s body is just the same as a weapon and it culminated in a sickening attack by Laurinavicius with a two footed stamping with all your weight into the man’s face. “
Karnisauskas to his credit had pulled his friend away, but the attack left a boot mark and could easily have fractured his skull, said the Judge.
“For such appalling violence it was quite impossible to impose anything other than immediate custody,” he said. Laurinavicius was jailed for 12 months, Karnisauskas for six months.
The court was told there was a European arrest warrant out for Laurinavicius in connection with fraud and he faced exradition proceedings. He had convictions for assault on police and drunken driving. His co-accused had a conviction for theft and failing to surrender.
Paul Green for Laurinavicius said he and his partner worked as cleaners at a Canterbury store and if he was jailed, she would suffer financial hardship. He submitted although a serious offence, it was not necessary to send him to prison immediatly.
James Ross, for Karnisauskas, said he worked for a car valeting firm and rarely drank but was the worse for drink that day being in a Russian restaurant with friends. He joined in the attack later and did not throw the chair and it was only once the attack began that he joined in.
At the end of the video he could be seen trying to stop his friend causing more injury and he was very sorry.