Youth admits attack that left teen with brain damage

A 16-year-old has admitted an attack that left a Oldbury teenager fighting for his life in hospital.

Conor Southall was left with brain damage, which means he struggles to walk and talk when tired, after being hit by a single punch on June 15.

The 16-year-old defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, yesterday pleaded guilty to unlawfully and maliciously causing grievous bodily harm at a hearing at Dudley Youth Court.

The court heard how the victim, who is also 16, was on the way home with a friend from a shop in Halesowen when he spotted three teenagers including the defendant on the other side of the road.

The trio started shouting abuse at them before the defendant walked across the road and punched the victim in the face, the court heard.

The blow from the defendant knocked him out and he fell to the floor and knocked his head against the ground, said Mrs Sukhi Rai, prosecuting.

She said: "He suffered bleeding on the brain and was placed in a medically induced coma with an acute haemorrhage. He has sustained life changing injuries."

She said he had since been discharged and his condition had improved at home, but still, he has to be supervised at all times.

He will return to hospital, however, to get a metal plate placed in his skull in six months.

Mr Shabeer Qureshi, defending, said the defendant was "wracked with guilt" following the attack.

He said: "It was a single punch, he never intended the severity of the injury.

"This will live with him for the rest of his life, in some way there is a second victim from this and it is him."

The case has been adjourned for sentencing.