Policeman were each jailed for their part in the attack.

Chief Justice, the Hon. Mr. Justice Ward, jailed Kimani Llewelyn Fubler and Ian Jason Simmons for two years after they pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and serious assault on the Police.

"Any person who carries out violence against the Police in the manner of these defendants must expect a prison sentence,'' he said.

"The Police are here to protect members of the public and must be protected themselves.'' Fubler, 20, of 16 Fourth Avenue, Shelton Road, Pembroke, and Simmons, 20, of 4 Factory Lane, Pembroke, had both pleaded guilty at an earlier Magistrates' Court hearing and were sent to the Supreme Court for sentencing.

Two other men involved in the attack, Gilroy Guy Brangman, of Northcote Avenue, Pembroke, and Malik Donahue Outerbridge, of Loyal Hill Road, Devonshire, each received suspended sentences at an earlier Magistrates's Court hearing.

Mr. Justice Ward criticised the sentences as being too lenient.

In the early hours of January 3, last year, Det. Con. John Fryer and other officers went to investigate reports of a disturbance on Court Street.

He got out of his car and walked to a parking lot near the Spinning Wheel disco. It was then the crowd began to throw bottles and stones at the car, the earlier court hearing was told. Fryer began to walk back to the car which was being subjected to a barrage of stones, bottles and firecrackers and he saw Fubler throw a bottle which hit the back window.

He questioned Fubler, but decided to forget the incident and walked back to the car which was forced to drive off because of the hail of missiles.

As he walked back along the sidewalk, Fubler confronted Fryer and as he walked past, the 20-year-old hit Fryer on the back of the head with a bottle and chased Fryer across the street as he tried to get away.

Fubler tripped the officer and started kicking him in the head and body.

Simmons, Brangman and Outerbridge joined in, along with about eight other men who have not been identified.

As Fryer lay huddled in a ball on the ground he suffered 20 to 30 kicks to his face and body causing a broken nose, a heavily bruised right eye, a cut on the back of the head, swollen lips and bruising about his body. Members of the public and off-duty officers rescued Fryer, but even then the four men tried to attack him and had to be restrained.

As a result of the attack Fryer was left physically and emotionally shaken and has sought psychiatric treatment. He is still off work.

In Supreme Court Fubler and Simmons both apologised for what they had done.

"I would like to apologise for what I put Mr. Fryer through. I am sorry for my actions,'' said Simmons.