A FEUD over a woman that exploded into street violence after closing time has put two friends behind bars.

Stephen Hay, 28, and Ian Wallace, 25, kicked Wayne Jervis as he lay defenceless on the ground in Micklegate, said Austin Newman, prosecuting at York Crown Court.

Mr Jervis was the former boyfriend of Hay's girlfriend, and each man had accused the other of assault before they met in the early hours of June 9.

"Whatever had gone on before, there was no excuse whilst in drink in a public place to embark upon what was a vicious and sustained attack upon a man lying on the ground by two of you," Judge Geoffrey Marson QC told Hay and Wallace. "What possessed you to do it, I don't know."

He jailed Hay, of Windsor Garth, Acomb, for two years and Wallace, of Niddine Road, Glasgow, for 18 months. Both men admitted wounding Mr Jervis.

Mr Newman said Mr Jervis was on his way to a taxi office in Blossom Street after closing time when he met the other two in Micklegate and swung a punch at Hay.

Hay head-butted him and both he and Wallace wrestled Mr Jervis to the ground and kicked and punched him. When he eventually managed to get to his feet and attempted to walk away, he was hit several times in the back of his head.

He spent five hours in hospital with an injured nose and cuts, swelling and bruising to his face.

For Hay, Chris Smith said that although he had previous convictions for violence, he was a hard-working man, whose employers had said they would give him work when he returned to York. His girlfriend was six weeks pregnant and he had paid utility bills in advance to make life easier for her while he was in prison.

For Wallace, Mark McKone said he had moved to York for a job and was a hard-working person. Eight close relatives of his had travelled from Scotland to support him during his day in court.

He realised drink was a problem for him and he would be more careful about alcohol in future.

Updated: 08:44 Tuesday, December 06, 2005