THREE Pembrokeshire men have been jailed for a total of 22 years for a 'vicious and brutal' attack on 37-year-old former Olympic squad boxer Rennie Edwards.

Mr Edwards, an ex-featherweight champion, was left with two collapsed lungs, a brain haemorrhage and impaired memory after being beaten up and struck with a length of wood.

Gareth Edwards, aged 31, and Edmund Quinn, 30, both of North Court, Haverfordwest, and Tyrone Blair Evans, 31, of High Street, Haverfordwest, were jailed by Judge Gerald Price at Swansea crown court.

Quinn and Evans were convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and each received nine years. Edwards was convicted of a lesser charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm but without intent and was jailed for four years.

On October 2nd, last year, first Evans and then Gareth Edwards attacked Mr Edwards, who was forced to escape through a window.

All three followed him outside where Quinn joined in what the judge described as an 'horrendous' assault.

"He was shown no mercy, particularly by you Evans and Quinn. All three of you left him severely injured and made no attempt to get him help," said the judge.

"You, Gareth Edwards, tried to stop the attack when it went too far. Even so, you were party to an attack during which you, Evans and Quinn struck him repeatedly with a piece of wood.

"Mercifully, he was not killed or permanently injured.

"It was clear to me that there is an aura of fear and intimidation of you three that clearly has an affect in the North Court area. I intend to remove it.

"You are thugs, all three of you," said the judge.

During the trial the jury heard how all four men were chronic, heavy drinkers, who frequently drank from morning till night. Each had substantial criminal records and there were allegations they had attacked each other in the past.

The trio were separated by security officers in the dock of the court, following more disturbances.