A TERRIFIED man cowers on the floor in Ipswich town centre as a baying mob “put the boot in” - because he told them shut up.

A TERRIFIED man cowers on the floor in Ipswich town centre as a baying mob “put the boot in” - because he told them shut up.

These CCTV images helped to convict five thugs - including two teenage women - after a night of violence.

The victim has not been traced to this day.

He escaped “into the night” after being saved by quick-thinking cops who pounced on the rowdy gang in Westgate Street on November 1 last year.

They had been tailing the drunken group and ordered CCTV operators to direct their cameras in time to catch the sickening attack.

The main player, Stefon Alexander, seen in the white hoodie, is shown kicking the man while he is huddled in the foetal position under the Christmas decorations.

The 19-year-old was part of a 30-strong rabble who took to the town centre after attending the fireworks display in Christchurch Park.

When asked to be quiet by a man, who is possibly Italian, around seven of the group decided to give him a “beating”.

When police swooped, Alexander broke an officer's finger when four of them were needed to restrain him, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

Alexander, of Ransome Crescent, Ipswich, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison after pleading guilty to affray and assaulting a police officer with intent to resist arrest.

Judge John Devaux said the CCTV footage graphically showed the central role Alexander played in the attack.

He added: “You put the boot in on the unknown victim who, it seems, was very lucky to be able to escape from that violence into the night.”

Co-defendants Annemarie Haynes and Lucy Mayhew were also punished after admitting their part in the affray.

Haynes, 20, of Old Foundry Road, Ipswich, was handed a community order and a four-month curfew.

Nineteen-year-old Mayhew, of Queen's Square, Ipswich, was also sentenced after pleading guilty to attacking two 13-year-old girls at the Christchurch Park bonfire event.

She was given a community order with an alcohol treatment supervision, a four-month curfew and was ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.

Two youths, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were also convicted for their part in the affray at an earlier hearing.

Were you the victim? Call The Evening Star news desk on 01473 324788 or e-mail: starnews@eveningstar.co.uk