A SOLDIER who worked in Burnley's Army Careers Office has been jailed for a series of "vicious" unprovoked street attacks.

Drunken Adrian Cottam and a pal, father-to-be Cameron McGovern, both 19, were captured on CCTV "swaggering" along Hammerton Street and setting about unsuspecting passers-by.

And after jailing the pair a judge warned other youths about their conduct.

Cottam is now set to be discharged from the Army.

The pair, who had not got a criminal conviction between them, both looked stunned as Judge Beverley Lunt, who had watching the video recording told them: "A picture paints a thousand words".

The judge said the offences were acts of mindless and gratuitous violence on randomly selected victims out to enjoy themselves for the evening.

She added the attacks, which were from behind and cowardly, included blows to the head and the shock on the recipients' faces had been plain to see.

Judge Lunt added: "The public must have confidence that youths who are going around behaving like you and randomly attacking people in the streets will be punished and will go to prison. Other youths must be aware of that."

Cottam, of Lowerhouse Lane, was given 12 months after admitting three counts of assault causing actual bodily harm. McGovern, of Rendal Street, pleaded guilty to two assault charges and was given eight months.

Two 17 year olds also involved in the violence had been dealt with by the youth court.

John Beggs, prosecuting, told the court the assaults took place in the early hours of last September 30.

One of the victims, Mark Tunstill who was also a soldier suffered bruises and swelling over his right eye and a cut lip and chipped tooth.

He went to hospital along with another complainant Jamie Ashworth who had a swollen eye and a cut eyelid.

For Cottam, Tim Ashmole said he was a serving private and was ashamed of his behaviour.

The defendant was doing extremely well in the Army Careers Office.

If he was jailed he would almost certainly be discharged from the forces.

He came from a stable family but on one night had gone out and committed a series of pointless, stupid acts, with an element of pack mentality.

Martin Hackett, defending McGovern, a roofer, said he had been to a memorial party for a friend who died the previous year.

He did not really know why he acted like he did.