TWO brothers from Winsford and Middlewich have been jailed following an unprovoked assault on a man.

Leon Price, 38, and Billy Price, 26, subjected the 23-year-old victim to a 'despicable act' in Winsford, including kicking, punching and hitting him in the head with a belt.

The pair were drinking alcohol near the subway that joins Mount Pleasant Drive and St Johns Drive when the incident occurred shortly after 6.30pm on Friday, June 12.

The victim had exited the subway and was walking along St Johns Drive when he saw the brothers, who gestured and waved.

Both brothers jumped on top of the victim and began their attack being fleeing the scene.

Officers located and arrested them in Winsford later that night.

Leon Price had the belt he hit the victim with in his jacket pocket when he was arrested – and the victim's DNA was found on it.

The brothers refused to answer any questions when interviewed in custody, but pleaded guilty as a result of the DNA evidence and being picked out via a video identification parade.

They were sentenced for the offence, assaulting a person and causing them actual bodily harm, at Chester Crown Court on Friday.

Leon Price, of Gladstone Street in Winsford, was jailed for 16 months, while Billy Price, of Booth Lane in Middlewich, was given a one-year prison sentence.

They were also both ordered to pay a £156 victim surcharge.

Police constable Dan Barlow, of the Winsford Beat Management Team, said: "Leon Price and Billy Price were both under the influence of alcohol when they subjected the victim to an unprovoked assault.

"The fact that they had been drinking is certainly no excuse for the despicable act of assaulting a man who was simply walking past them.

"Violent incidents of this nature are completely unacceptable.

"Thankfully, the victim only sustained minor injuries as a result of the incident.

"The consequences of the incident could have been much worse.

"At Cheshire Constabulary we are committed to bringing violent offenders to justice and making our communities safer places to live, work and visit.

"I hope that this case, and the fact that the two brothers are now behind bars facing the consequences of their actions, deters others from committing such offences.

"I also hope that it highlights the fact that we take offences such as this extremely seriously."