A TEENAGER who launched an ‘unprovoked’ attack upon another man in Bridport town centre has been given a community order.

Leon Scott Hayward, aged 18, appeared at Dorchester Crown Court to be sentenced after admitting a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Prosecutor Heather Shimmen said that the victim, Phillip Sharp, was walking home along East Street in the early hours on the night of August 24 last year when he was approached by the defendant.

She said: “He ran up to him and for no apparent reason began punching him in the face.”

Miss Shimmen said that the incident was witnessed by police and Hayward was arrested. She said that in a victim personal statement Mr Sharp spoke of the vulnerability he felt at being attacked ‘in such an unprovoked manner’.

Tim Shorter, mitigating, said his client accepted that at the time of the offence he had been going out and drinking too much and had expressed ‘remorse and apology to the victim’. He said: “He recognises the foolishness of his lifestyle.”

Hayward, of Costock Close, Birmingham, was sentenced to a 12-month community order with a specified activity requirement to attend an anger management programme, a supervision requirement and six-month curfew requirement.

He was also ordered to pay £500 compensation.