A group of teenagers attacked a man during a long-running feud just metres away from Oxford’s Cowley Road Carnival.

Lying on the ground receiving a series of punches and kicks was 18-year-old Mohammed Bilal, recently released from jail for kidnapping and violent disorder.

His three attackers, Anil Sundar and brothers Michael and Solomon Sony, were all given community orders at Oxford Crown Court yesterday after admitting affray.

Mr Bilal was jailed in September 2009 after he was involved in a kidnapping in March 2008, and a mass brawl at the junction of James Street and Cowley Road the following month in which Sundar and his brother were badly injured.

He was previously acquitted of kidnapping Michael Sony.

Detailing the attack at 4.45pm on the corner of Magdalen Road on July 4 last year, Clare Tucker, prosecuting, said: “Mohammed Bilal and Anil Sundar each says the other started it.

“Whatever then happens, Anil Sundar assaulted Mr Bilal and the other two defendants and other people rushed over and started punching and kicking Mr Bilal.”

The fight was broken up by two doormen. One of them, Craig Thomas, told police: “It looked like a brutal attack which could have ended in serious injury.

“I’m surprised the victim came off unscathed and totally unharmed.”

Sundar, of Cricket Road, East Oxford, told police Mr Bilal approached him and said “I’m calling my boys”, to which the defendant replied “go on then”.

Sundar, 18, said he thought Mr Bilal had a weapon so he punched him and he fell to the ground.

Michael Sony, 18, of Lytton Road, Cowley, told officers he and his brother Solomon, 19, had gone to help Sundar.

Solomon, also of Lytton Road, said in a police interview that Mr Bilal had threatened them “on numerous occasions” since being released from prison.

Clare Fraser, defending Sundar and Solomon Sony, said her clients had received “taunts and verbal abuse” from Mr Bilal before the incident. She added: “Bottles and other items were being thrown at them.”

She said the feud had been going on for years and Mr Bilal “felt as though he ran the community in which they lived”. Miss Fraser added: “Both Anil and Solomon deeply regret their actions on this day.”

Terence Woods, defending Michael Sony, said: “These defendants were clearly subjected to a sustained campaign of violence on the part of Mohammed Bilal and others.”

None of the three men, who are all students, have previous convictions. Judge Mary Jane Mowat gave each defendant a 12-month supervision order with 200 hours’ unpaid work and £200 costs. She said she was satisfied there was provocation from the victim.