A GANG of Polish migrants squatting in dives across north London have been jailed for beating a fellow squatter to death with a piece of wood in a row over drugs.

Victim Wieslaw Czyrak, of Newlyn Road, was attacked by up to four men in what onlookers described as a mass street brawl, in High Road, Tottenham, last year.

Mr Czyrak, 46, had joined his attackers for an evening drink on June 17, 2009, at a well-known squat near Aldi, off Parkhurst Road, but got into a row when two of the men, Marek Rutowski, 27, of Vicarage Road, Tottenham, and Krystian Majewski, 21, of Leaside Road, Hackney, began to prepare class A drugs.

An argument ensued and the pair left, but later returned with their friends Jurand Glowacki, 27, of Pembury Road, Tottenham, and Marian Glowacki, 31, of Hertford Road, Enfield, to beat the elder man.

He was beaten with the hefty piece of wood, and suffered punches and kicks to his head.

When they were done with him, the gang left Mr Czyrak bleeding in the road with a serious injury to his head.

He suffered a heart attack and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The four men admitted manslaughter, and were sentenced to ten years in prison each, with the exception of 21-year-old Majewski who received a nine-year jail term.

Investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Tony Nash, of the homicide and serious crime command, said: "Wieslaw Czyrak was subjected to an act of mindless violence which led to his fatal heart attack.

"This case is an illustration of pack mentality. Despite it being unclear who delivered the fatal blow, the four involved have shown no remorse and are all guilty. They will now spend time behind bars."

Detective Nash gave special thanks to members of the Polish community in north London who co-operated fully with the investigation.

He added: "I would like to thank Czyrak's family for their dignity in the most testing of circumstances."