A YOUNG thug has been locked up for hitting a defenceless man with a bottle.

Security footage captured the assault when a gang of 30 youths struck the victim with the bottle and a plank of wood.

The 16-year-old from Middlesbrough, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to his part in the attack.

Teesside Youth Court heard that Ernie Butler rushed out of his home when he saw a group of teenagers breaking into his Transit van last November.

The self-employed builder feared they would steal tools so he challenged the group, said Ian Bradshaw, prosecuting.

"He said he received a blow to the back of the head which he described as a punch," said Mr Bradshaw.

The court heard the teenager had actually struck Mr Butler with a plastic bottle.

The victim was knocked to the ground when he was hit in the face by another youth yielding a plank of wood.

In mitigation, Marie Mallon said the teenager had shown great remorse since viewing the footage and had taken steps to address his alcohol intake.

She said: "He has no recollection of the attack.

"He saw the graphic incident when he was interviewed by police and he has found it extremely distressing to see that he can behave in that manner."

District Judge Roger Elsey told the teenager he had no alternative but to give him custody because of his previous convictions, which included burglary and robbery.

He said: "I give you credit for your guilty plea, but no one watching the CCTV footage and seeing a violent attack take place on an innocent man by a drunken gang can be under any elusion that only a custodial sentence is justified."

The 16-year-old will serve three months in a young offenders' institution before spending a further three months completing a training order.