A DRUNKEN teenager was caught on camera in a street attack in which his victim was kicked unconscious.

Only the intervention of others prevented the assault continuing, in Consett, County Durham, early last Christmas Eve.

Durham Crown Court was told the attacker, 18-year-old Michael Parkin, left the scene and removed his top, but was arrested a short distance away, still bloodstained.

The court was shown footage of the assault captured by a closed circuit camera.

Lesley Kirkup, prosecuting, said there was an earlier confrontation between the pair before they came across each other in a pizza takeaway.

The 19-year-old victim, who had been drinking heavily on a Christmas night out with people where he worked, shook hands with Parkin.

But one of two other youths with Parkin head-butted him, and he staggered out of the premises.

He was followed to a car park in Albert Road, where he fell over and was kicked around his head and body.

Miss Kirkup said he blacked out and only came round in an ambulance on the way to hospital.

He suffered a cut above the eye, which required stitches, plus swellings, cuts and bruises on the rest of his face and body.

Glen Gatland, mitigating, said both teenagers were earlier ejected from a nightclub after a confrontation.

Words were exchanged outside, and Parkin remembered seeing the other youth with a bottle in his hand.

He chased him to the car park, where the "disgraceful attack" took place.

Mr Gatland said Parkin had since taken steps to curb his drinking.

Parkin, of Bracken Close, Stanley, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.

Imposing a six-month sentence in a young offenders' institution, Judge Richard Lowden said it was fortunate Parkin was prevented from causing more serious injury to the victim.