The case was heard at Maidstone Crown Court

by Julia Roberts

Two thugs involved in a violent fight at a flat in Sheerness when a man had his ear bitten have been locked up.

Quinton Taylor, 18, was sentenced to four months in a young offenders' institution and 30-year-old Steven Montague was jailed for eight months earlier this year.

But the hearing can only be reported now after further charges of robbery against Taylor and another co-defendant were dropped last week.

At the time they were sentenced, a judge made an order under the Contempt of Court Act that the details of the assault case could not be reported until after Taylor's pending trial for robbery.

However, the prosecution offered no evidence against Taylor, from Catford in south east London, and 20-year-old Adam Cullen, of Mill Road, Gillingham, at Maidstone Crown Court.

It was alleged the pair had robbed Lisa Lancaster of cash on December 1 last year.

However, Judge Philip St. John-Stevens was told there was now not a "realistic prospect" of conviction as the alleged victim could not be contacted.

The court heard she had previously expressed a view that she "may or may not" support the prosecution.

The Crown therefore offered no evidence against the pair.

Cullen was not at court as he had not been produced by the prison service. He was sent to a young offenders' institution for 10 months in January after admitting two offences of conspiracy to supply cannabis to an inmate at HMP Rochester in December 2011.

The earlier case related to an attack on Kyle Bone, Peter Hills and Jake Young at Overton House, The Broadway, on November 25 2011.

Taylor and Montague had gone to the flats to visit another man.

They were originally charged with two offences of unlawfully wounding Mr Bone and Mr Hills, and assaulting Mr Young causing actual bodily harm.

But the prosecution accepted guilty pleas for Taylor to actual bodily harm on Mr Bone and Mr Hills. He admitted the same charge for Mr Young.

Montague admitted common assault on Mr Bone and Mr Hills and actual bodily harm on Mr Young.

The pleas were entered shortly before they were due to stand trial at Maidstone Crown Court.

Richard Milne, prosecuting, said although the injuries amounted to wounding they were "in essence serious actual bodily harms".

Mr Milne said Taylor was the main "protagonist" during the incident, while Montague was there to support him. It was accepted that Montague at one point acted as a peacemaker.

John Fitzgerald, for Taylor, said the offences were the most serious the teenager had committed.

Philip Sinclair, for Montague, said his client had an appalling record of 71 convictions, mostly for dishonesty and driving. Three were for violence, the last being in June 2005.