A TEENAGER who was one of the main culprits in a gang attack on a party-goer has been spared jail by a judge who told him: "You must realise this is your last chance."

Jamie Lee Stewart, 19, was given 200 hours community punishment for his part in the brawl after a party at Darlington Rugby Club last summer.

Stewart, of Fenby Avenue, Darlington, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court yesterday.

The court heard how Stewart started a row with Mark Oyston after knocking his drink over and being ejected from the party on August 26.

John Gillette, prosecuting, said Stewart waited outside the venue and he and a gang of up to 15 friends chased Mr Oyston and several of his pals before the attack.

Mr Oyston was knocked to the ground before being punched and kicked by Stewart, and was left with bruising to his face, a cut above his eyebrow, cuts and grazes to his head and a bloodshot eye.

Stewart also faced a joint charge with his friend, Louis Fenwick, of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Paul Stevenson, but both men pleaded not guilty and the pleas were accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Fenwick, 18, of Cloverdale, Darlington, also denied affray, but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, and was given a 40-hour enhanced community punishment order.

Stewart and Jason Woodbridge, 18, of Dundee Street, Darlington, also denied affray and not guilty verdicts were recorded against them.

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox, QC, told Stewart: "You were by far the worst of the two and you have no justification whatever for doing what you did to that lad.

"You have got very close to being locked up. I am not going to do that today, but if you come back before me again for anything like this, I will lock you up.

"You are on very thin ice. Bear that in mind."

Judge Fox also ordered Stewart to pay Mr Oyston £500 compensation, and added: "The injuries you caused him were nasty."

The judge told Fenwick: "You had no business to get involved with this, even on the relatively light basis that you did."