Three County Durham teenagers attacked another lad at an 18th birthday party after he confronted one of them for supposedly "roughly handling" a girl.
Callum O'Connor, 18, Michael Stewart, 18, and Joe Storey, 19, kicked and punched the teenage boy on May 22 last year as they celebrated at a birthday party. The trio and a youth "rained down" punches and kicks on the teen and left him with cuts to the head and cheek.
The three attackers appeared at Durham Crown Court on Thursday to be jointly sentenced for assault occasioning actual bodily harm. They all pleaded guilty to the charge at the hearing.
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Lewis Kerr, prosecuting, said the attack happened at an 18th birthday party which was being attended by other teenagers, including the victim. Mr Kerr said: "He (the victim) saw O'Connor roughly handling a lady at the party and intervened. O'Connor turned and said 'Don't tell me what to do'. That was the impetus for the attack."
Mr Kerr said the three defendants, as well as another youth, began to attack the teen, with O'Connor taking a "leading role". He said: "They began punching him in the face and witnesses say they saw the victim being taken to the floor with punches and the defendants joining in. Punches and kicks were raining down on him in an attack that lasted minutes."
The court heard the teen left the scene with a cut to his head and cheek, with the defendants claiming self-defence when interviewed by police. All three later admitted they carried out the assault. The court was told the youth who also took part in the attack has already been sentenced and was given a referral order.
In a victim statement, the teen who was attacked said he had been left with difficulty eating and has had trouble sleeping due to worry. He added he had left his Sixth Form course due to his mental health and difficulty interacting with people.
In defence, the court heard that O'Connor, of Priestburn Close, Esh Winning - who had drank six bottles of lager before the incident - is an apprentice at a fabrication business and has no mental health or drug issues, but was now controlling his alcohol use. He was said to be "ashamed for his actions" and had shown a "level of regret".
Stewart, of Flass Avenue, Ushaw Moor, was said to also be an apprentice who currently works in Middlesbrough and was at a "low risk of reoffending".
Joe Storey, of Herrington Close, Langley Park, was also said to have "shown remorse" and was "ashamed". The court heard he had also started to control his alcohol use.
Judge Ray Singh that the trio were "hard working individuals who have not troubled the courts before" but said O'Connor's reaction to the confrontation was "way over the top". The judge said it was unlikely the three would be up at court again in future and said he was going to deal with them "leniently".
All three were given a 12 month community order and were ordered to pay £200 compensation each. O'Connor was also made subject of a two month curfew between 11pm and 5am.
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