A GANG of thugs including a teenager from Harrow have been sentenced for violently mugging a charity fund-raiser in Southend.

Dean Beadle was collecting sponsorship money in the sea-side town in May last year, just weeks before he was due to take part in a 140-mile charity bike ride.

Mr Beadle and his friends regularly raise money for Help for Heroes, a charity which assists men and women who have been wounded while serving in the armed forces.

After changing up several hundred pounds worth of coins in a pub, the 39-year-old kindly invited a group of five people he had met back to his house for a drink.

The gang then turned on Mr Beadle, attacking him and taking the money he had collected, as well as his wallet, jewellery and mobile phone.

Massively outnumbered, Mr Beadle suffered a fractured skull and cuts to his face during the attack and was left in a car park behind a pub on the seafront.

The gang appeared in Basildon Crown Court yesterday for sentencing.

Dean Dalton, 19, of Courtenay Avenue, in Harrow, was sentenced to two and a half years in a young offenders' institution. He had previously admitted wounding with intent, having a bladed article and theft.

Oliver Wooton, 18, of Tibbles Close, and Christopher Roberts, 18, of Rickmansworth Road, both in Watford, pleaded guilty to affray. They were given a nine month prison sentence, suspended for 18-months.

Charlotte Vessey, 20, of Lower Plantation, Chorleywood, admitted grievous bodily harm and was given a nine-month jail term, suspended for two years.

Dean Taylor, 20, of Rowan Close, Bricket Wood, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent and robbery. He was sent to a young offenders' institution for 39 months.

Bryn Parry OBE, co-founder of Help for Heroes, said: “That people attack others and greedily steal funds for their own use, that are given generously by the British Public and intended to support the wounded, is unforgivable.

"This undermines the thousands of generous and committed fundraisers across the UK who have enabled Help for Heroes to commit £104m to provide practical and direct support to the wounded.”

Steve Hunt, who organised the ride, served in the army for 12 years. He and his friends arrange fundraising activities for Help for Heroes every two or three months.

He said: “I was absolutely disgusted when I heard, it was terrible, they knew what he was doing and who he was collecting for.

“Four or five of the pubs around here offered to replace the money which was taken, about £350, after they heard what happened.”

Despite his injuries, Mr Beadle went on to finish the two day ride, which took place in June last year.

Mr Hunt added: “Dean was advised not to take part in the ride by his doctor, and by us, because of his concussion, but he said he wanted to and he completed the ride with us.”