A THUG captured on CCTV kicking and punching a man on the ground has avoided being sent to prison.

Leon Crossling and an accomplice chased their victim in Middlesbrough town centre before launching an unprovoked attack on the man.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 31-year-old pounced after the victim smashed into the window of Barclays Bank.

Emma Dowling, prosecuting, said trouble flared in the early hours of July 25 following a dispute in a restaurant and the victim was attacked by two men.

She said: "The defendant was seen to kick the man once and punch the man once as part of this general melee."

The victim suffered no significant injuries the court heard.

Judge Paul Watson QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, sentenced Crossling to a two year community order with 150 hours of unpaid work to be carried out.

He told the defendant that he had taken into consideration the family tragedy he had suffered early last year.

Crossling, of Thorndyke Avenue, Middlesbrough, had pleaded guilty to affray.

  • His co-accused Christopher Edminson is due to go on trial in October with affray in relation to this incident and manslaughter from a separate incident on the same day. The 19-year-old, of Bull Lane in York denies both charges.