THREE men have been jailed for a vicious and unprovoked attack on a group of teenage boys on a night bus.

Michael Lewin, Michael Thompson and Kieran Hogg had been drinking heavily in Oxford city centre before getting on the Stagecoach bus in Park End Street, Oxford Crown Court heard.

Their 17-year-old victims – picked at random after one of the robbers asked them for a lighter – were travelling home at about 12.40am after a night out in Oxford on October 26.

The three attackers, who between them have notched up 65 previous convictions for 117 offences, were all jailed at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday.

Cathy Olliver, prosecuting, said 23-year-old Lewin reacted to being told none of boys smoked by asking if they were “dissing” him.

He then punched one of the teenagers in the mouth, breaking a front tooth and leading him to eventually need up to £2,000 of dental work.

The court heard Lewin taunted: “Don’t mess with me, I’m a gangster.”

Hogg, of Iffley Road, East Oxford, joined in by sitting behind one of the boys, who cannot be named because of their ages, and demanding money.

The 20-year-old threatened to punch one of his victims if he didn’t open the note compartment of his wallet.

Finally, 23-year-old Thompson bounded down the bus and elbowed one of the boys in the face.

He then launched “a karate kick at the throat” of another victim, the court heard.

The trio made a swift exit from the bus, which was on its way to Witney, at Farmoor after realising they had been caught on CCTV camera.

The court heard they fled with just a handful of coins.

Adrian Amer, defending Hogg and Lewin, said: “It was a disgraceful set of events.

“Mr Hogg and Mr Lewin totally understand that, totally recognise that and totally appreciate that, and they express very heartfelt and sincere remorse.”

Mr Amer said Lewin, who has 39 offences to his name, was expecting his first child in May and hoped “to make a fresh start” after his release from jail.

Clare Fraser, defending Thompson, who has nine assaults on his record and was jailed for affray in 2008, said: “He didn’t become involved through any sort of buzz.

“He deeply regrets becoming involved, and he wasn’t aware a robbery was taking place.”

The court heard the father-of-one had previously worked as a doorman.

Judge Anthony King called on police to investigate how he could have been licensed for such work with his “abysmal record of violence”.

Lewin, of Bartlett Close, Witney, who earlier admitted robbery, causing actual bodily harm, and possessing cannabis, was jailed for two years.

Hogg, who had admitted robbery, was given 18 months in prison.

Thompson, also of Bartlett Close, who pleaded guilty to two common assaults, was jailed for six months. Having spent 79 days on remand, he is likely to be released within days.