A THUG who punched, kicked, and stamped on a man even after his victim was knocked unconscious has been jailed for four years.

Lee Stott brutally attacked his victim after waking him up while he was asleep in a shop doorway on Stockton High Street in October.

CCTV footage showed the 39-year-old's sickening attack as he elbowed the man to the head, smashed his skull against the pavement before delivering a number of stamps and kicks to his prone body.

As he was jailed for four years, Stott was told he was lucky now to be facing a more serious charge following the horrific assault.

Recorder Christopher Knox told the defendant he had caused his 'helpless' victim very serious injury when he suffered a broken ankle, facial injuries and a cracked rib.

He said: "It starts as gratuitous violence after a pretty insubstantial argument that you had with the complainant, who clearly doesn't look like he was much of an opponent.

"You punched him, established that he was no risk to you and then you set about him – you kicked him, stamped on him, punched him, used your elbow as a weapon and it was a vicious attack on a man who was largely helpless."

The Northern Echo: Lee StottLee Stott

The judge added: "Having seen you kicking and stamping on him and giving him a gratuitous kick to the body – I have to say you are very fortunate indeed that he didn't suffer grave injuries.

"You are man with a horrible record for violence, you are, I'm afraid, a criminal. You have 39 previous convictions, you have serious convictions in the past for robbery, affray and theft from person."

The court heard how Stott spat at the security guard who helped apprehend him the day after the violent attack.

Stott, of Leybourne Terrace, Stockton, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent following the attack o at around 9pm on October 28.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said the victim had suffered significant injuries as a result of the attack but he was no experiencing any long term effects of the brutal assault.

Nicci Horton, in mitigation, said her client had pleaded guilty to the charge at the earliest opportunity and regretted his actions.

"It didn't start out to be a gratuitous use of violence, he thought he was helping the man, the man then lashed out at the person he thought was attacking him but wasn't and it has escalated from there."

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