TWO men who took part in a sickening street attack captured on security cameras have been spared jail.

Burly Simon Skelton, 24, and Wayne Keers, 28, who admitted affray, kicked and punched their victim as he lay helpless on the ground. Skelton also stamped on his head.

Both men claimed they had been goaded by the victim, Justin Harker, who was said to have burgled Keers' home in 2002 and kicked his dog.

They walked free from Teesside Crown Court, having been handed community punishment orders by Judge Peter Armstrong.

He said he was just able to step back from jailing them because of the provocation they received and the fact that Mr Harker had not made a complaint to police.

John Constable, prosecuting, said the fracas had taken place at the junction of Victoria Road and Avenue Road, in Hartlepool, at about 12.30am on July 19 last year.

On the video, played in court, Keers is seen to attack Mr Harker first before Skelton, who is deaf, joins in.

Mr Constable said an aggravating feature was the size of those involved. Skelton is 6ft 5in, Keers 6ft, and their victim 5ft 8in.

Remarkably, Mr Harker escaped serious injury and was just left with swelling and bruising to his head and body.

Dan Cordey, for Keers, of Helmsley Street, Hartlepool, said Mr Harker had goaded him about the burglary and beckoned him to fight. He had also made threats to stab him.

Mr Cordey said: "He admits he lost his temper at that point. He is remorseful about what he has done."

He said Keers had lost his job as an industrial cleaner as a result of the attack.

Peter Makepeace, for Skelton, of Motherwell Road, Hartlepool, said: "What has happened and his part in it has really crushed his hopes and opportunities."

Judge Armstrong said Skelton would do 240 hours unpaid community work and Keers 200 hours, while both men would each pay £360 costs.

He said: "You need to get back on track and not get involved in anything like this again. If you fail to carry out these orders you will come back to court and each of you will go to prison."