TWO teenagers who have been locked up for a 'ferocious' assault at Otley bus station have been told the attack could have left their victims disabled 'or worse'.

Judge Kerry Macgill told Leeds Crown Court he hoped sentencing 19-year-old Daniel Clark to three years and a 17-year-old to two years and four months in custody for the attack would send out a strong message against thuggery.

Clark, of Clovelley Row, Beeston, Leeds and the youth who can't be named for legal reasons, also from Leeds, had admitted attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm on Otley brothers Thomas and Lee O'Donnell on August 12, 2006.

The court heard last Friday that the 10.30pm assault had been seen by off-duty Bradford Police Inspector Andy Oddy, who described it as "one of the most vicious and frightening attacks" he had ever witnessed.

It left 19-year-old Lee with a broken nose and Thomas, 17, with a badly swollen ear and extensive bruising. The court heard how Clark, then 18, and the youth had been drinking to excess before the assault, which was captured on CCTV.

The O'Donnells were attacked from behind as they were about to get on a Leeds-bound bus. Clark, who took his trainers off at one point during the assault, had drop-kicked' one of the brothers while the youth had repeatedly kicked Lee O'Donnell while he lay on the ground.

Sentencing the pair, Judge Macgill said: "I've watched that video twice today to remind myself of the role you both played. There may have been some small provocation but in no way did it justify the kind of thuggish behaviour that you both demonstrated.

"You kick, you stamp, you're attempting to cause grievous bodily harm when you strike someone lying on the floor, when you kick them that can only be the intent.

"It's quite possible the ferocity of the blows you struck with your feet could have caused permanent injury if not worse. As it was you left them in a real mess.

"The day has come that you realise you pay the penalty for acting the big man'. These courts will not tolerate that kind of thuggery.

"I intend to pass a sentence that will demonstrate to you and others like you that if you continue with this kind of serious misbehaviour you will expect to get a serious sentence."

Judge Macgill had heard that Clark had four previous assaults on his record and had been sent to custody for five months in January last year. The 17-year-old had two previous convictions for assault.

Commenting on the sentences, Otley Police Inspector Simon Hepworth said: "I'm pleased the judge has reflected the seriousness of the offence with serious sentences.

"I hope this sends out a message to people that we will not tolerate such out and out thuggishness. We will continue to deal positively with it and I'd personally like to thank the members of the public who got involved at the time and helped us bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion."

Defending Clark, barrister Simon Perkins acknowledged that the CCTV footage spoke for itself and that Clark was disturbed when he saw it and genuinely "ashamed and gutted' at what he has done".

Richard Reed, for the 17-year-old, said: "When I played that video to him his first reaction was to say That's not me, it's someone else. What I mean to say is that it is me but I'm not really like that'."