A THUG who launched a vicious attack on an innocent dog walker has been jailed for 21 months.

Kyle Banks denied assaulting the victim, claiming he had acted in self-defence, but was convicted by magistrates in a trial last August and committed to Teesside Crown Court for sentence.

Prosecutor Jonathan Harley said Banks was drunk when he approached the other man in Forest Drive, Colburn, near Catterick, asking him: “Who are you?”

The victim replied he didn’t know him and he was walking his dog before Banks then punched him in the face, got the man on the floor and continued to punch and kick him, before he was dragged away by two friends.

The victim received a cut to his mouth, which required ten stitches, a bloodied nose and bruising to his ribs and arm.

Banks, 23, of Fifth Avenue, Colburn, was on bail for a suspected assault at the time of the offence and had a number of convictions for assault and destroying property.

Graham Silvester, mitigating, said the defendant was working with a drug and alcohol agency to address his problems and had attended sessions with an employment and training provider.