A teenager who punched a girl 25 times as she was lying on the ground has been told by a magistrate "we all make mistakes".
Kyle Lye, 19, was spared an immediate prison sentence after admitting assault causing actual bodily harm.
Liverpool Magistrates' Court heard yesterday how Lye, of Finch Lane in Knotty Ash, told the victim he "wouldn't stop until she was dead".
The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was able to flee the scene after attracting the attention of a driver nearby, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Prosecuting, Jonathan Wilkinson told the court how Lye "punched her to the ground, kicked her and punched her body approximately 25 times as she was curled on the floor."
As the victim was escaping, Lye continued the attack and "punched her again to the face and stomach", he added.
Questioning the lack of "visible injury" to the victim, chair magistrate S. Wood asked, "are they just pretend kicks?"
Mr Wilkinson confirmed the hits "made contact" and the girl was sore despite there being "no bruising".
Defending, Anna Duke said Lye made "full and frank admissions" in a police interview after his arrest and had no previous convictions.
He had attacked the girl in a "fit of rage and temper" but had then accepted culpability, she added.
Ms Duke said a probation programme would be better suited than a custodial term to address "why this young man lost his temper", saying Lye also has "quite a lot of responsibility" and a young daughter.
"If he were to go to custody any problems he has now would only be exacerbated", she said.
Lye was handed 20 weeks suspended for a year, as well as 10 hours of rehabilitation activity requirements, 120 hours of unpaid work and an order to complete a Building Better Relationships programme.
He must also pay his victim £300 in compensation and £85 in court costs.
Magistrate Wood said: "As you're aware you could be going to prison today.
"We do feel the custody threshold has been passed, however we're going to suspend any sentence for 12 months."
"You don't want to go to prison at your age I don't think", they added.
Before Lye left the dock, Magistrate Wood said: "We all make mistakes, it's a question of controlling your emotions."
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