Four Dutch nationals have been sentenced to up to eight months in a Norwegian court for beating up two men, one of whom suffered life-changing injuries, during a conference of the sectarian Brunstad Christian Church religious organisation in the coastal town of Tønsberg.

The three 19-year-olds and one 21-year-old are members of the Dutch chapter of the international church, known as the Norwegian Brotherhood which has some 1,900 members.

The four men were part of a group of 350 Dutch youngsters who attended a conference in November last year. Surveillance cameras captured the moments in which the four beat up two Norwegian men, one of whom ended up with a fractured skull and is still coping with the consequences.

It is unclear what led up to the fight. The men, who fled the scene, all come from Krommenie, Norwegian police told the AD at the time. None were thought to be under the influence of alcohol.

The 19-year-old who rendered his victim unconscious was sentenced to eight months in prison and ordered to pay his victim compensation of €4,000. Two other members of the group are facing five months in jail and a payment of €3,500 to the other victim, while the fourth got off with a fine of €1,200.

The Brunstad Christian Church is a worldwide evangelical non-denominational Christian church established in Norway early in the 20th century.