Soldiers spared jail over brutal assault

Two soldiers have avoided jail despite being caught on camera brutally beating two men and repeatedly stamping on the head of one of the victims close to their barracks in North Yorkshire.

Shaun Smith and Jason Collins carried out the double assault near their barracks at Catterick Garrison.

Shocking CCTV footage showed one of the victims left unconscious on the road before they chase the other man and begin to punch and stamp on him.

In total Smith stamps 18 times on one of the victims while Collins rains down punches on him.

Smith, 25, a guardsman with the Scots Guards, and Collins, 22, a Welsh Guardsman, claimed they had been provoked.

At Teesside Crown Court, Smith was given 12 months jail suspended for 12 months, 80hrs unpaid work and was told to pay £1,000 compensation.

Collins was handed a 12 month community order, 80 hrs unpaid work and also told to pay £1,000 compensation.