A Purley man has been jailed for beating a man so hard with a metal pole that it bent.

Ralph Daley of Palamos, Church Road, Purley was sentenced to 18 months for violent disorder at the Inner London Crown Court today.

The 45-year-old will serve half the sentence in custody and the rest on licence.

He was sentenced along with four other men in connection with a brutal assault outside the Fridge Bar, Brixton on November 26 last year.

Frederick Mallefroy, 43, of Kingston Road, Ilford, Essex was convicted in his absence of attempted GBH and sentenced to three-and-a-half years.

Victor Carl Reid, 41, of Eamon Casey House, Mostyn Road, Brixton was convicted of violent disorder and sentence to two-and-a-half years in prison.

Two other men, Gary Kevin Baker, 37, from Harrowby Street, Paddington and James Stephenson, from Streatham, were both convicted of perverting the course of justice.

Baker was sentenced to nine months, and Stephenson received six months.

Repeatedly punched

The court heard how Mallefroy, a bouncer at the Fridge Bar, attacked the victim, a man in his 20s, throwing him to the ground at around 4.30am.

Mallefroy then turned the victim on his back and sat astride him repeatedly punching him in the head.

The victim was punched with such force he was knocked unconscious.

At the same time Daley, the co-owner of the Fridge Bar, struck him with a heavy metal pole on the legs four times - hitting the victim so hard the pole bent and disfigured.

Daley even continued to hit the victim after he had been knocked unconscious.

Reid, a cashier on the door, joined in stamping and kicking the victim in the head - and then attacked him with a metal bar.

The victim was taken to a south London hospital where he was treated for cuts, multiple bruising and a leg injury.

He did not want to help police with their enquiries, but enough evidence was gathered from CCTV to press charges.

Search warrant

The day after the attack officers searched the Fridge Bar when a plain clothes policeman noticed Baker and Stephenson trying to dispose of the metal bar used in the attack.

Both were arrested and charged with perverting the course of justice.

Police are still searching for another man who took part in the attack but has not been traced.

He is seen in CCTV footage wearing an overcoat and a baseball hat.

Mallefroy failed to attend his trial and it is believed he has fled abroad.

Lambeth borough commander Chief Superintendent Sharon Rowe said: "I am pleased at the sentences given today which reflect the seriousness of the crimes committed by these violent men. It's important to highlight that this was a victimless conviction.

"All of those convicted worked for the Fridge Bar and were supposed to be responsible for preventing disorder but instead they created it.

"The level of violence used was totally unacceptable and I hope that today's sentence will send out a very clear message that those engaging in such violence in Lambeth will be prosecuted with or without the help of a victim."

Anyone with information about Mallefroy's whereabouts or the outstanding attacker should call Lambeth CID on 020 8649 2119 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.