TWO drunken thugs beat a driver so hard his front teeth were knocked out.

George Rudkin has been spared jail for a “disgusting” attack on a man in Rayleigh while his girlfriend looked on in horror.

Zachary Smith had got into his car with his partner and was reversing out of the driveway on November 17, 2017.

This resulted in a moped having to stop which caused the riders of the moped, who had been drinking and taking Class C drugs that evening, to become angry.

Rudkin, 18 at the time, got off the moped and started shouting and Mr Smith through the driver window, before his friend joined him.

Mr Smith got out of his car to try and get the men to leave, but then one struck him in the face, resulting in his teeth being knocked out.

Rudkin then joined in, hitting Mr Smith and a fight broke out between the three along with Mr Smith’s girlfriend.

The duo then behaved aggressively towards neighbours who tried to diffuse the situation.

Rudkin was spoken to by police on the night, and eventually was charged with, and admitted, assault causing actual bodily harm.

He appeared at Basildon Crown Court yesterday for sentencing.

Ian Cliff, mitigating, told the court Rudkin was remorseful for his actions and had not offended since the incident, and that it has taken more than two years for him to be sentenced.

Judge Samantha Leigh told Rudkin: “You had a lot to drink with your friend that evening and Class C drugs were taken.

"You had lost all sense of perception and your behaviour was quite frankly disgusting.

“You are not the person that knocked the teeth out but of course it was a joint enterprise.”

Rudkin, of Walpole Walk, Rayleigh, was given six months in jail suspended for 12 months, 100 hours unpaid work and 30 days rehabilitation.

He must also pay Mr Smith £750 compensation.