A TEENAGER who took part in a brutal street attack which left a man seriously injured was jailed for two years, yesterday.

Matthew Stockton suffered a broken jaw, fractured cheekbone and two black eyes when he was punched and kicked by a gang of three yobs.

The unprovoked attack was captured on closed circuit television cameras in a town centre and pictures were published in the media.

The images prompted Stephen Coxall to hand himself in, and yesterday he was jailed for what his barrister described as "a moment of madness".

Mr Stockton was returning home from a night out when his taxi stopped to pick up three other men, near the town hall, in Middlesbrough.

Teesside Crown Court heard that he agreed to let the others in because they were all travelling in the same direction and could share the fare.

But when the three got out, in Longlands Road, two of them pulled Mr Stockton to the ground and repeatedly punched and kicked him in the head.

The court was told that 19-year-old Coxall, who did not know any of the men, initially tried to stop the attack, but then joined in.

Adrian Strong, prosecuting, said Mr Stockton had £50, his mobile phone and cash card stolen, and spent two days in hospital.

Coxall, of Appleby Avenue, Middlesbrough, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on December 1, last year.

Judge George Moorhouse told him he would have been locked up for longer period if he had not handed himself in to police.

The court heard that the other two attackers, who were probably responsible for the robbery, have never been caught.

Ian Mullarkey, mitigating, said Coxall had no previous convictions for violence, and described his involvement as an aberration.

Coxall had kicked Mr Stockton just once, and did not know any of his belongings had been stolen.

He initially denied being involved, but admitted his part after police found traces of the victim's blood on the teenage scaffolder's shoes.

The court heard that Coxall has an 11-week-old baby and had coached young footballers in his community.

"This is a young man who has made a terrible mistake," said Mr Mullarkey. "He says this offence has ruined his life."