A MAN who stamped on another man's head during a drunken attack has been spared prison.

William Gareth Jordan, 20, of Haughton Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty at Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday to assault causing actual bodily harm.

The court heard Jordan had become involved in an altercation with another man in Skinnergate.

Ciaran Grogan, prosecuting, showed the court closed-circuit television footage of the offence.

Mr Grogan said Jordan claimed he carried out the attack on the man because he had struck a woman.

However, Mr Grogan said there was no evidence of this and no woman has ever come forward to police.

The video showed Jordan attacking the victim, kicking him and stamping on his head while he was on the ground.

Mr Grogan said: "He was extremely drunk that night and although this is not excusing his actions it does go some way to explaining them.

"It's an aggravating factor that this was done in drink and the injured party is just trying to walk away. He's a helpless victim."

Mr Grogan said as a result of the attack, the victim suffered cuts, bruises and grazing.

Claire Brinton, in mitigation, said the charges had been hanging over her client's head for the past six months and he was aware of the consequences of his actions.

Chairman of the bench Peter Valks told Jordan: "As you are well aware, this was a very serious offence and you could have gone to prison today."

He sentenced him to a 12-month community order, 150 hours unpaid work and ordered him to pay £100 compensation.