THREE men who gave a drinking companion "a good beating" have each been jailed for 14 months.

Victim Barry Robinson was accused of "grassing up" one of the trio and ended up being punched and kicked.

When the three appeared for sentence at Preston Crown Court their barristers said the defendants had had a drink problem and knew that prison would follow.

Jason Littleproud, 32, of Preston New Road, Blackburn, his 38-year-old brother Ian, of Delacey House, Blackburn, and Brian Slater, 41, also of Delacey House, pleaded guilty to a charge of causing grievous bodily harm.

Mr Neil Standage, prosecuting, said Mr Robinson considered himself to be a friend of all three at the time in June.

He met up with Jason Littleproud in Preston New Road and went with him to Delacey House, where he met up with the other two and started drinking with them.

This continued into the early hours of the following morning when an argument developed. Ian Littleproud was accusing Mr Robinson of "grassing him up" to the benefits agency.

Slater began attacking the man, punching him in the head on a number of occasions. The Littleprouds joined in, punching and kicking Mr Robinson, the court heard.