A STEEL erector who attacked a student in a take-away has escaped a prison sentence.

Ben Bleasby, 23, was caught on CCTV assaulting the 17-year-old in the Rendezvous pizza shop, in Stockton town centre.

Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday that the defendant had drunk ten pints of lager and several shots of sambuca before the attack, which took place at about 1.30am on Sunday, April 21.

The footage taken inside the pizza shop was played in court.

It showed Bleasby, of Gooseport Road, Stockton, apparently arguing with staff and then leaving the shop.

He returned moments later, headbutted the student and then punched him in the face.

The victim fell to the ground semi-conscious.

He was taken to hospital and treated for a cut above his left eye.

An x-ray later revealed he also had a fractured cheek bone.

Bleasby was arrested after the incident and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He had admitted the charge at an earlier court hearing

Sharon Elves, prosecuting, said the victim was wary of going out since the attack.

Robert Mochrie, mitigating, said his client had not put any real effort into the headbutt and had not followed up the punch with a kick.

"Before you is a very, very scared individual," he added.

"He has made himself prepared for a custodial sentence.

"(Since the attack) he has addressed his drinking habits and fully appreciates that downing sambuca and lager is wholly inappropriate.

"He is horrified by his actions and appreciates the effect this must have had on the victim."

Sentencing Bleasby to 100 hours of unpaid work in the community, Judge Tony Briggs said he had taken into account the defendant's apparent remorse for his actions.

He added: "Over the past 12 to 18 months, alcohol appears to have replaced drugs as the usual cause of offending of this nature.

"Behaviour of this sort is very common."

Bleasby was ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to his victim, at a rate of £200 a month.

He was told to pay a further £200 costs