A TEENAGER who kicked a York man to the ground in an unprovoked late-night attack has been jailed for ten months.

Karl Richmond, 19, no fixed address, admitted attacking Paul Brian early on February 20 and giving a false name to police.

Accomplice Christopher Metcalfe, 18, of Farsley, Leeds, also pleaded guilty to attacking Mr Brian, leaving him with a swollen face, bruised body and chipped front tooth.

Chris Smith, prosecuting, told York Crown Court that the victim had been drinking with friends in the city centre on the night of the attack.

He left The Lowther pub, in Cumberland Street, at about 2am and headed across Ouse Bridge towards a pizza shop, where he was approached by Richmond and Metcalfe.

Mr Smith said the pair verbally abused Mr Brian before striking him to the ground. They repeatedly kicked him in the face and chest, while a large group of passers-by looked on.

Police were called to the scene and caught the pair swapping their clothes nearby. They were arrested and admitted the attack when interviewed.

Richmond, who has 20 previous convictions and was subject to a Community Punishment and Rehabilitation Order at the time of the attack, was from a "difficult and disadvantaged background", said his barrister, Michael Collins.

Mr Collins said Richmond moved to York in 2001 to live with his uncle and escape the influence of his family and friends.

He urged Recorder Timothy Roberts QC to spare Richmond a custodial sentence so he could go into business with his uncle.

Andrew Semple, for Metcalfe, described his client's actions as "idiocy" and said that a probation officer's report agreed this was "an offence entirely out of character".

Recorder Roberts told the pair: "You put a man to the ground and attacked him in front of a group of frightened members of the public. That sort of behaviour will not be tolerated."

He sentenced Richmond to ten months in a Young Offenders' Institute. Metcalfe was ordered to serve a two-year Community Punishment and Rehabilitation Order and pay £250 compensation to Mr Brian.

Updated: 10:55 Tuesday, June 08, 2004