A DAD who refused to buy booze for a teenage gang was left in a coma following a savage revenge attack nine months later.

Lee Harris, 29, almost lost his life because he had the courage to say no.

He and a friend were approached by a teenager, too young to drink, on New Year's Eve 2005 and asked to buy alcohol for him and his friends.

When the young father said no he became a marked man.

In September last year a brick was hurled through his window and when he went to investigate he was battered to within an inch of his life.

After suffering between 20 and 30 kicks to his head his scalp hung down over his face and he was left for dead.

Despite the ferocity of the beating, his attackers can expect to be back on the streets in under a year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Mr Harris and his partner Debra McGuinness had watched in horror as their children, one still a baby in nappies, were showered with glass as they played in the living room.

When he went out to confront the thugs he was attacked by a gang who repeatedly kicked him in the head as he lay on the ground.

As a result of the incident Mr Harris spent two months in hospital and he and his family have now left their home.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Mr Harris became a target for the youths after refusing to buy alcohol for underage teens.

Judge John Evans said: "Mr Harris's friend had refused to buy the lads alcohol at the local shop."

Prosecutor Roger Moore said: "Lee Harris was drawn into this argument and some sort of grudge appears to have been borne out of that."

He told the court how the teens' resentment against the self-employed window cleaner, came to a violent head on September 1st last year.

Mr Moore said Mr Harris's nightmare started when he returned home from work and was putting his ladders away.

After an initial argument Mr Harris was pelted with stones or bricks as he went into his house.

Meanwhile, one of the youths was using his mobile phone to round up others to become involved in the attack.

Mr Moore said; "Another stone or brick was thrown through the living room window, showering the children who were playing inside, with glass.

"One was a baby who was still in nappies.

"Mr Harris was understandably incensed by this and did what was understandable, he chased them along the road."

The court heard how the exact details of the attack are still unclear.

But one witness said in her statement: "I could see boys running down the street, maybe 10 or 12, in all directions, I noticed some girls too, they looked about 14 or 15.

"I heard someone shouting 'stop, come here' and one boy punched him. I saw the man wobble and fall to the ground.

"The rest of the group came back and surrounded him, they started to kick him and stamp on his head.

"He tried to put his hands up but they continued to kick and stamp on him."

Another witness said: "They kicked him 20-30 times, it was sickening."

The court heard how paramedics at the scene quickly realised Mr Harris had life threatening injuries.

A flap of skin had become detached from his forehead and was hanging down over his face.

He had a clear footmark on his head and was unconscious.

An initial CT scan showed Mr Harris had suffered no brain injury.

But he was later found to have blood inside his skill on the surface of his brain and was kept in a drug induced coma for a month.

He spent two months in hospital.

Jamie Taylor, 18, Inskip Terrace, Gateshead, and Shaun Armstrong, 17, of Edgeware Road, Deckham, Gateshead, admitted causing grievous bodily harm.

Taylor was sentenced to 12 months in a young offenders institute and Armstrong was sentenced to 12 months detention and training.

The court heard how neither had been involved in the original argument over the alcohol.

Judge Evans told them: "It was not your argument and you chose to get involved.

"Mr Harris's life and that of his family has largely been destroyed by you and the others.

"It was thuggish behaviour. If you get involved in thuggish behaviour I will sentence you for thuggish behaviour."

Paul Naylor, 17, of High Lanes, Heworth, admitted affray.

Prosecutors accept he did not take an active role in the attack but was present.

He was sentenced to carry out 100 hours community work.