A MAN was attacked by three men as he walked home from a pub.

In January, Scott Kelly, 28, was walking home alone after drinking with his brother when the youths stopped him and asked him for a cigarette. Mr Kelly realised he had left them in the pub.

He went back for the packets and as he resumed his walk two of the youths leapt from bushes and attacked him.

Two women in a passing car saw Mr Kelly on the ground being kicked. When they returned to the scene the attackers ran off.

Christopher Knox, prosecuting, said the women contacted police and gave them a description, which matched Anthony Handisides, 20, who police had stopped nearby.

Handisides said that his friend first punched Mr Kelly and he then punched the man three or four times until he fell and he then kicked him a couple of times in the body.

Mr Kelly's left eye was damaged and he had to take time off work, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said that Kelly was deeply ashamed of his actions, particularly because he now had a £500-a-week job to start.

Judge George Moorhouse told Handisides: "Your behaviour was so appaling on that day."

Handisides, of Dunoon Road, Hartlepool, was sentenced to nine months youth custody suspended for two years with 140-hours unpaid work in the next 12 months and ordered to pay £400 compensation and £400 costs after he pleaded guilty to ABH.