Three teenage thugs who beat up four Asian shopkeepers in Bristol have been named after the Evening Post successfully challenged reporting restrictions.

Reporter Dominic Harris, who recently passed his National Certificate Examination, argued that the three 17-year-olds should be named because of the overwhelming public interest, the seriousness of the attacks and the aggravating racial element.

The boys, Nicholas Gardener and twins Justin and Luke Lovedale, all had their identity protected by Section 49 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 when they first appeared at a youth court in Bristol.

Despite now being allowed to name and shame the trio, the Evening Post was not able to publish their addresses, only that they all live in south Bristol.

During a night of violence in the Bedminster area of the city in June, the three teenagers attacked shopkeepers at two different shops.

Over the course of an hour, the twins, aged 16 at the time, punched and kicked a staff member in a Bargain Booze off licence before Gardener joined them in an unprovoked attack on two shopkeepers at a Costcutter supermarket.

On each occasion they shouted racist abuse at their victims, the Evening Post reported.

Following a three-day trial, the district judge found all three boys guilty of racially aggravated common assault in the two shops.

Lifting the reporting restrictions, he said: “It is highly likely in my mind that these defendants who demonstrated no remorse would commit similar offences in the future, and the protection of the public outweighs their personal welfare.”

All three will be sentenced on 11 November.