A YOUTH who changed his Facebook status to 'full-time killer' after a disabled man he attacked later died of a brain haemorrhage was yesterday given community service for his crime.

Last night the heart-broken family of victim Scott Hall pledged to donate their £1,000 compensation to charity.

Newton Aycliffe magistrates were told that Mr Hall spent the final days of his life in a state of terror after being punched to the ground and kicked by two teenagers.

Nine days after he was assaulted by the two 15-year-olds in Newton Hall, near Durham City, last July he suffered a bleed to the brain. He died two days later.

However, an inquest could find no evidence to link Mr Hall's brain haemorrhage to the assault and last month the Crown Prosecution Service said it was not appropriate to charge the youths, now aged 16, with unlawfully killing the 28-year-old.

The youths, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, initially denied a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm but pleaded guilty to the offence at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Thursday, March 11).

Mr Hall’s devastated mother, Carol, and sister, Zoe, attended the hearing and afterwards they pledged to donate the £1,000 compensation award to charities close to his heart.

Chris Atkinson, prosecuting, said Mr Hall, who had physical and learning disabilities, had been trying to walk away from a verbal altercation with his attackers when he was punched to the ground near Newton Hall Library shortly after 10pm on Thursday, July 24.

Mr Atkinson said: “He was punched in the face, to the left hand side of his jaw, by one of the defendants.

“That knocked him to the ground and the witnesses describe both young men kicking him while he was on the ground to the back and shoulder area.”

Mr Atkinson said several witnesses ran to Mr Hall’s aid and reported him being unconscious for a couple of minutes before paramedics arrived.

“Mr Hall suffered from Rasmussen’s Syndrome, which affected his balance, speech and the way he walked,” said Mr Atkinson. “His disability must have been apparent to his attackers.”

Mr Atkinson also highlighted how one youth had changed his Facebook status to “full time killer” after Mr Hall’s death.

Addressing the court, Miss Hall, the victim’s sister, described her brother, from Framwellgate Moor, as her best friend.

“Scott was terrified on the days between the assault and his death,” she said.

“He was constantly upset and couldn’t understand why someone would want to hurt him. [The defendants’] actions resulted in him being frightened for the last week of his life. I don’t think we will ever get over what has happened.”

Both youths, who had no previous convictions at the time of the assault, and their parents apologised to Mrs and Miss Hall.

Their solicitors, Neil Bennett and Warren Ridley, described the incident as out of character for their clients.

Mr Bennett, representing the youth who threw the punch, said: “It was a very regrettable incident. He accepts his part in it and is sorry for it.”

Speaking for the other teenager, Warren Ridley said: “He regrets his actions. It’s something he cannot explain. He was involved in a verbal altercation and reacted in totally the wrong way.”

District Judge Martin Walker sentenced both youths to 12 month referral orders, with 'intense' rehabilitation and community service requirements.

Speaking outside of court Miss Hall, 25, thanked Durham Police for the way they handled the investigation and paid tribute to her beloved brother.

“Scott was my best friend, a practical joker who liked to help people,” she said. “He often helped old people carry their shopping home and did things for charity.”

Commenting on the sentence, Mrs Hall said: “It’s not what we wanted.”