A TEENAGER sobbed in court as closed-circuit television camera footage of a shameful attack he carried out in a town centre was played.

Christopher Horsburgh could not bear to look at the shocking pictures as he appeared in the dock on a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Teesside Crown Court heard that the 19-year-old also reacted with horror when he was shown the video in a police station after his April arrest.

Horsburgh, of Stockton Road, Thirsk , North Yorkshire, was said to have been “deeply affected and saddened” to learn of his victim’s horrific injuries.

Steven Cadamy, 24, was in hospital for nine days and spent three months unable to walk after shattering his ankle when he was felled by Horsburgh.

The video footage showed the teenager unleash a flurry of punches aimed at Mr Cadamy’s head outside the Royal Hotel, in Thirsk, at 1.30am on April 8.

His barrister, Kieran Rainey, told the court that the apprentice bricklayer had limited his drinking since then, and had a high degree of remorse.

“It was never his intention to cause that level of injury,” said Mr Rainey.

“There were some punches but this was not a deliberate attempt to hurt someone.”

Mr Cadamy suffered a displaced fracture which needed three screws and a metal plate to fix, as well as damage to the ligaments of his ankle.

Liam O’Brien, prosecuting, told the court that the victim could not stand for more than five minutes an hour and suffered mentally by being bedbound.

Horsburgh admitted causing grievous bodily harm and was given a ten-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, with 12 months of probation supervision.

Judge Peter Bowers also ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work for the community and pay Mr Cadamy £2,000 compensation.

“It is a lot of money, but he deserves that,” said the judge. “He spent three months on his back with his leg up and his statement reveals how serious it was.

“You are a lucky young man but I don’t think we will ever see you again.

Sort yourself out and use whatever benefits you can from probation.”