THREE men have been jailed for a total of almost six years after setting a dog on a man in a revenge attack.

Philip King was left with a number of bite marks, having been savaged by Buster, a Staffordshire bull terrier, who chased him out of his Southampton home and into the street.

The owner of the dog, Oliver Beadell, his brother Charles Beadell and mutual friend Ashley Lear also punched and kicked Mr King, who had to be treated at Southampton General Hospital for a number of injuries, including several bite marks that had punctured his skin.

The trio ran from the scene after shocked onlookers, including staff and patients at a nearby surgery on Alma Road, called police.

They were later arrested by officers and charged with GBH. A jury convicted the men after they heard how Buster was DNA tested to prove he was the animal who carried out the assault.

The court heard that the trouble began with an attack by Mr King on Lear during which Lear’s mobile phone was taken.

Later, walking along London Road, Lear bumped into the Beadell brothers. The trio then went to Mr King’s flat in what was described as a “revenge attack”. Violence erupted and resulted in Mr King fleeing the address, pursued by the dog.

Sentencing went ahead in the absence of Charles Beadell who was not at court for the duration of the trial. His brother Oliver also failed to appear, so a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Recorder Alan Large sentenced Lear, 23, of Cobbett Road, Southampton and Charles Beadell, 20, from Macclesfield to two years’ imprisonment and Oliver Beadell, 23, of Havre Tower, Southampton, to 23 months, as he regarded the attack as a “joint enterprise”.

The court was also asked to order the destruction of the dog, who has been kept in police kennels since the attack in June. However, in the absence of Beadell the matter was adjourned until next month.