Daniel Hermon, Nathan Baker and Lewis Aldridge set upon Julian Johnson, 53, as he was walking home from a night out in Beccles.
Hours earlier, he had intervened when Hermon and Baker got involved in a fight with another group outside the town's Wetherspoon pub, the Kings Head Hotel.
The three defendants were sentenced after a brawl outside the Kings Head Hotel in Beccles ended in attempted murder. (Image: Submitted)
Judge Emma Peters told Ipswich Crown Court - where the trio were sentenced on Monday - it had been a "dreadful irony" that Mr Johnson had sat down with Hermon and Baker after the brawl to try to give him the benefit of his experience and tell them their aggression could land them in prison.
Daniel Hermon, 26, of Market Place in Southwold (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)
Judge Peters described Hermon as the "ring leader" and sentenced him to 18 years in jail, while Aldridge and Baker received 17 years, with........