Three men who punched and kicked a waiter in an alcohol-fuelled attack, leaving him with serious brain damage, have been jailed.

Paddy Gale and Benjamin Louther, both 18, and Andrew Nesbett, 25, all from Banbury, were told they were lucky not to be facing a murder charge after their attack on Weakub Miah, Oxford Crown Court heard. The three had previously pleaded guilty to charges of grievous bodily harm.

Mr Miah, who worked at a restaurant in Banbury, was punched and knocked unconscious in the attack in the town centre, at about 3am on May 10. When he began to come round after the initial assault, he was kicked in the head by Louther, and the three ran away.

Mr Miah was left on the floor, having trouble breathing. He needed brain surgery and was taken into intensive care. He finally regained consciousness on May 16.

James Lakhovic, prosecuting, said: "He has difficulty walking properly, gets tired quickly and noticed weakness down his right-hand side. He can shower, bathe and shave, but they take far longer than before."

Justin Wells, defending Gale, of Woodfield, said he had shown remorse and apologised to the victim and victim's family. He said: "He was clearly suffering the effects of alcohol. He has had a difficult upbringing and has become violent under the influence of alcohol." Mr Wells told the court that Gale said the group had taken offence after Mr Miah approached them asking about contact with English girls.

Nicholas Syfrett, defending Nesbett, of Deacon Way, said: "What these defendants did led to consequences far beyond what would normally happen. The defendant makes it plain he was drunk before the incident."

Terence Woods, defending Louther, of Caernarvon Way, said his client represented a threat when he drank to excess. He said: "Louther was coping as a young man without a family when this happened. He has re-established a relationship with his mother, who can't be in court today because she is at his grandmother's funeral."

Judge Mary-Jane Mowat said: "Mr Miah had done nothing to provoke violence other than suggesting he might want contact with white girls. It strikes me that for people of your age and in this day and age to take offence at that is pretty hypocritical.

"You left him severely injured and you are lucky he lived or you would be facing a murder charge."

Gale and Nesbett were jailed for three years and Louther for two years and seven months.