Kicked and punched his victim during an unprovoked attack

Alfie Waring, Ashley Gardens, Banbridge, was also sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, for assault occasioning actual bodily harm on September 28 last year.

The court heard police spoke to the injured party who said he had been assaulted by two males outside the Chicken Box in Newry Street, Banbridge.

He was punched in the face in an unprovoked attack and kicked while he was on the ground.

CCTV footage from the Chicken Box showed Waring pushing the injured party to the ground and kicking him. The victim did not attempt to defend himself.

The defendant would not co-operate with police and would not provide the name of anyone else involved in the assault.

Mr Richard Monteith, representing the defendant, said Waring was in company of friends and the injured party, who was highly intoxicated, stubbed out a cigarette on one of his friends.

Regardless of what the injured party did Waring had to accept his behaviour was wrong, said the solicitor.

He added that Waring was joined by others in the assault but they were friends of the defendant and he was ‘not going to squeal on them’.

Mr Monteith said his client had a hard working background but a change of job meant that community service might be difficult.

Waringstown accepted the court would take a dim view of this behaviour but all the options were open in the pre-sentence report, added Mr Monteith.

District Judge, Mr Barney McElholm, said there was no justification whatsoever for this attack.