A judge told a group of youths involved in an outbreak of violence on Brighton's Whitehawk estate they had shamed their community.

Judge Anthony Scott-Gall sent some of the youths to jail or young offenders' institutions and made community punishment and supervision orders on others for their role in the trouble on April 28 last year.

Violence erupted early on April 28 last year. Police were confronted by a group of local youths who threw bricks, bottles and eggs at officers and shouted abuse and threats.

Four people were convicted of offences connected with the violence after a seven-week trial at Hove Crown Court, which ended last month.

A jury cleared three people and three others changed their pleas to guilty during the trial. Sentencing was adjourned until yesterday at Lewes Crown Court.

The judge said most Whitehawk residents were decent, law-abiding people who were striving to bring up their families to respect hard work and the rule of law. He described last year's clashes as "appalling" and "very frightening".

He said: "What took place on that evening was an affront to your community in which you all live."

Referring to criticism of the police's handling of the incident, he said: "I utterly reject any suggestion that was hinted at in the trial that the police officers were provocative, insensitive or heavy-handed in the way they were required to cope with a very serious incident of public disorder.

"The police during the course of this violent disorder were subjected to vile and abusive threats and actual violence.

"It is now time that each and every one of you begins to comprehend the police serve the community and strive to protect the community at large."

Lee Gumbrill, 19, of Swallow Close, who was convicted by the jury of violent disorder, received the longest sentence - ten months in a young offenders' institution.

Aaron Haines, 19, formerly of Faygate Road and now of no fixed address, admitted a charge of violent disorder in November last year. He was sentenced to seven months in a young offenders' institution. The court heard he had been in custody since August last year and he was released immediately.

The oldest defendant, Ricky Rider, 29, of Haybourne Road, who was convicted by the jury of causing an affray by a 10-2 majority, was jailed for three months.

Asa McBride, 18, of Haybourne Road, who admitted using threatening behaviour, was sentenced to 100 hours' community punishment.

A 17-year-old youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons and who played a leading role in the disturbance, was sentenced to eight months' detention and a training order. The jury convicted the teenager of violent disorder.

Another 17-year-old, who admitted violent disorder, was sentenced to six months' detention and a training order.

A 16-year-old who admitted violent disorder was sentenced to 12 months' supervision and another, who was convicted of using threatening behaviour, was sentenced to 24 hours at an attendance centre.

The court heard how the violence erupted after a group gathered in the street near Dillons newsagent. Police were called after a complaint that bottles were being thrown.

When officers arrived they were confronted by the youths who appeared aggressive and refused to move away.

Reinforcements arrived to find a mob of youths shouting, jeering and taunting police. Missiles were thrown towards police vehicles.

Walter Hornsby, prosecuting, said: "The attitude of the youths to the police was they had no business being there. They regarded the Whitehawk estate as their estate and the Crown says what happened thereafter was a challenge to the police."

Barristers representing the defendants told the court they felt remorse for the incident, which erupted on the spur of the moment.

Detective Constable Kevin Weston, the officer in charge of the case during the trial, was commended in court.