Alan Graham and Kevin Meikle previously admitted assaulting their victim by seizing hold of him by the body, pulling him to the ground then repeatedly punching and kicking him on the head and body on July 4, 2013.

Graham, of Blue Triangle, Alexander Street, and Meikle, of Salisbury Place, stamped on the man’s head, pursued him then proceeded to pull him down a flight of stairs, causing him to fall to the ground.

The attackers continued punching, kicking and jumping on the man’s head and put him in a headlock. They pulled their victim from a train on to the platform and continued the attack, to his severe injury — and to the danger of his life.

Graham, 22, and Meikle, 23, also pleaded guilty to assaulting another man at the train station by pulling him to the ground, punching and kicking him on the head and body while Meikle further admitted an assault on a third man.

Judith Reid, defending Meikle, said: “It’s clear this was not Mr Meikle’s argument. It is extremely drunken behaviour but the whole thing seems to have kicked off with an argument.

“Mr Meikle made the foolish decision to become involved in assaults that were nothing to do with him — that much is clear from CCTV.

“He accepts he is getting a custodial sentence. He needs to stop drinking and to stop being violent when he drinks.” Sheriff William Gallagher, sentencing, told the pair the attack had been “despicable and disgraceful”.

Graham was sentenced to 26 months in prison and will be under supervision for six months afterwards. Meikle was jailed for 28 months and will be under supervision for a year after his release. Both sentences were backdated to January 12.