TWO men celebrated after kicking and stamping on a man's head as he lay on the ground, a court was told.

Dale Gracie and Alastair Bell were involved in what a barrister described as a “large scale disturbance” in Richmond town centre, in North Yorkshire, in the early hours of August 17 last year.

The victim suffered whiplash-style injuries to his head as a result of being kicked and also damaged the tendons in his wrist.

Kate Dodds, prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court, said 20-year-old Bell was seen to punch the victim and run at him, kicking him to the head.

Gracie also scuffled with the complainant and stamped on his head several times when he was on the ground.

Ms Dodds said: “Bell and Gracie then congratulated each other using celebratory type gestures.”

Another man, Christopher Hustwick, a friend of the victim, became involved at a later stage and attempted to kick and throw a punch at another individual present.

Ms Dodds said a number of teenage women had also behaved “disgracefully” during the incident, which was captured on CCTV cameras. They had been dealt with and sentenced by magistrates.

Gracie, 20, of Meanwood Road, Leeds and Bell, of The Arches Green, Scorton, Richmond, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Hustwick, 23, of Carlton, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, admitted a public order offence.

Only Bell had a previous criminal conviction, for common assault, and Judge George Moorhouse agreed with a recommendation that the trio be given community-based sentences.

Gracie and Bell were told they would be supervised by the probation service and each do 150 and 120 hours unpaid work respectively.

Hustwick was given a 12 month conditional discharge.