Two Frenchmen were sentenced to 2.5 years in jail, with 12 and 18 months suspended, in Paris on Tuesday for beating up a gay Dutch man.

Wilfred de Bruijn, who lives in the French capital city, was walking home with his friend one evening in April last year when the two Frenchmen jumped him. During the attack, which made international headlines, De Bruijn was kicked in the face, suffering a broken tooth and cracks in his jaw and skull.

A man who witnessed the attack but did not help the Dutchman was given a six-month suspended jail sentence.

De Bruijn, who posted a photo of his face on Facebook shortly after the attack, told an Nos reporter he is happy with the sentence which shows France will not tolerate attacks on people because of their sexuality.

Since the Facebook photo went viral, De Bruijn has become a regular guest on the evening tv show De Wereld Draait Door.