Dudley thug punched victim almost 30 times
A thug punched his helpless victim to the head almost 30 times after a drunken argument broke out, a court was told.
Richard Halford repeatedly rained down blows on Jason Poole after the fight broke out at the junction of Tower Street and The Broadway, in Dudley.
Wolverhampton Crown Court on Friday heard it had been the victim who lashed out first, lunging at Halford and grabbing his throat.
But the hearing was told that Halford's reaction had gone 'far beyond' self-defence and instead becoming a 'sustained and vicious attack'.
Halford, aged 19, of Rowan Rise, Kingswinford, pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The attack happened on February 16 this year.
The teenager was sentenced to 10 months in a young offender's institute suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work.
Halford also has to pay his victim £750 compensation.
Judge Peter Barrie said: "You were clearly trying to cause more harm to your victim than you actually did.
"I accept you have shown remorse. You should be thoroughly ashamed of what you did and I think you are.
"Therefore I am just about persuaded to suspend the prison sentence."
