A DRUNKEN youth who led a protracted attack on a vulnerable man was today (Monday October 13) jailed for a year.

Scott William Donkin twice assaulted the diminutive victim, a 52-year-old immigrant from Hong Kong, with mild learning difficulties, after failing to find any money on searching his pockets.

Durham Crown Court heard that Donkin, with younger cousin Jordan Tomlinson, waylaid the cleaner as he pushed his bike home from work, at a Peterlee factory, late on Friday, March 14.

Approaching a church, off Passfield Way, Donkin, followed by Tomlinson, confronted him, grabbing the handle bars of the bike, asking for money.

Having fruitlessly searched his pockets, Donkin kicked his leg, twisted his arm behind his back and threw him to the ground, where he was punched and kicked.

Donkin then threw his bike to the ground and stamped on it, causing £260 worth of damage.

Paul Cleasby, prosecuting, said Donkin told the man they would follow him home, but during the near 30-minute journey they attacked him again, before giving up and leaving the scene.

Mr Cleasby said the heavily bloodstained victim knocked at the home of strangers seeking help.

A police officer accompanied him to the town’s walk-in centre, where, by chance, they spotted Donkin, who came up with what emerged as a spurious story about suffering an injury to his ear.

He was arrested and, when searched, a sock containing a pool ball was recovered from a coat pocket.

Donkin claimed it was a dog toy which he also carried “for protection”, but said he forgot he had it with him that night.

The victim suffered facial cuts and bruises, plus other abrasions to his arms and legs, and is now fearful of a similar attack when returning home from work late at night.

Donkin, 21, of Little Eden, Peterlee, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, possessing an offensive weapon and criminal damage.

Tomlinson, 17, of Avon Road, Peterlee, admitted affray.

Nick Cartmell, for Donkin, said he is “truly sorry” for the out of character attack, of which he has little recollection, as he was heavily under the influence of alcohol.

Nicholas Lane, for Tomlinson, said he played little part, other than pushing the victim to the ground prior to the second assault.

Jailing Donkin, Recorder Jeremy Hill-Bake also imposed a restraining order, preventing him approaching the victim for five years.

Tomlinson was given a 12-month community rehabilitation order, during which he must perform 40-hours’ unpaid work.