A booze-fuelled thug who kicked and punched a man as he lay helpless on a Newcastle city centre street has avoided a prison sentence.
Teenager Ryan Gillon and another male chased the victim on to Newgate Street minutes after a mass brawl outside Sinners nightclub.
The victim fell to the ground in the middle of the road before the 19-year-old attacker landed two kicks and a punch.
Gillon walked away from the scene outside The Gate but was tracked down by police officers a short time later.
Appearing at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court , the thug was told he was "extremely fortunate" to have avoided a prison sentence.
District Judge Bernard Begley said: "I still think you have some growing up to do.
"You are still a young man and I suspect there are things you need to learn.
"This was a stupid, stupid attack by you for something which it seems is nothing to do with you in the first place.
"Don't leave this courtroom thinking anything other than you have been extremely fortunate I have not sent you away today."
Shocking CCTV footage was played in court of the unsavoury city centre clashes involving "several males" at around 3.15am on April 7.
Prosecutor Keith Laidlaw confirmed Gillon did not take part in the initial brawl, but cameras picked the 19-year-old up approaching one of those involved at a bus stop minutes later.
Mr Laidlaw said: "Mr Gillon does not seem to be part of the initial group and punch up.
"He seems to approach this male and things seem to kick off again.
"The victim runs away from the bus stop and is followed by Mr Gillon and another male.
"The other male goes ahead of Mr Gillon and punches the victim from behind. It causes him to stumble and fall.
"Mr Gillon approaches and we see him kick him on the ground twice and punch him."
Gillon, who works night shifts at Argos, was taken for interview at Forth Banks police station but declined to answer all questions.
The teenager, of Acanthus Avenue, Fenham , pleaded guilty to a charge of using threatening and abusive behaviour with intent to provoke unlawful violence.
The court heard Gillon had spent time behind bars for offences committed as a youth, and had taken steps to make a fresh start for himself.
A probation officer told the court: “He fully accepts the way he behaved was wrong.
"He says he was incredibly drunk, he would not normally drink that much alcohol. He knows he behaved completely inappropriately.
"He did come across as genuinely remorseful about what he did."
District Judge Begley sentenced Gillon to an 18-month community order as a "direct alternative" to a prison sentence.
The 19-year-old was ordered to undertake 250 hours of unpaid work, 25 days of rehabilitation activities, and also pay £170 for court costs and a victim surcharge.
