A TEENAGER was sentenced to 18 months in a young offenders institution after he attacked two men in Dorchester.

Thomas Harmer, of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Dorchester Crown Court after pleading guilty to theft, assault by beating and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, as well as failing to surrender to bail.

The 19-year-old was also sentenced for a breach of a conditional discharge.

The court heard how on September 25 last year Harmer visited another male at supported accommodation in Dorchester.

Tim Bradbury, prosecuting, said that Harmer and an associate had played pool with the man, who at one point later discovered his mobile phone was missing and sent the defendant a Facebook message asking him to return his phone or he would report it to the police.

On October 1 last year, at around 1am, Harmer and his associate then visited the man again and said that they were there to look for the phone.

He said they weren’t allowed in but they pushed past him and went to his room where they pretended to search for the phone.

Harmer then threatened the man, telling him to never phone the police.

The court heard how Harmer then punched his victim to the side of the face, dazing him and knocking him to the floor.

Harmer then proceeded to repeatedly punch him to the face and head, with the victim saying this lasted for around a minute, causing a small cut to his forehead as well as bruising.

The court heard while he was on the floor, Harmer said to the man: “If you tell the police about this I’ll be back with 20 of my mates with bats.”

The victim then went to the bathroom to clean himself up when another resident came to investigate which caused Harmer and his associate to run off.

The court was told the following day another man was drinking in a pub in Dorchester when he went to a nearby alley for a smoke.

The court heard how Harmer, who was with the same associate, approached the man and stuck him on the back of the head with a bottle. CCTV showed them leaving the scene after the assault.

The court heard how the victim was left ‘shocked, distressed and upset by the incident’.

Harmer was required to surrender to police this year but failed to do so.

Tim Shorter, mitigating, said that Harmer has a history of problems with drink and drugs and that he ‘doesn’t know why he did it’.

The court heard how Harmer had a number of previous convictions.

Judge Jonathan Fuller said: “You’ve come to the end of the road. Your future is in your own hands.”

Harmer was sentenced to 18 months in prison for the offences.