A TRAINED young boxer was told to be careful what he does with his fists out of the ring.

Judge Richard Lowden gave the warning to Daniel Phillips after hearing how the apprentice bricklayer knocked out a 19-year-old man in an unprovoked late-night street attack.

Durham Crown Court heard that the victim, who witnesses initially feared may have been killed, suffered three depressed fractures to the cheekbone.

Phillips, 18, of Milton Grove, Shotton Colliery, east Durham, admitted causing grievous bodily harm, on the basis that he landed two punches, but denied kicking the victim when he fell to the ground.

Judge Lowden, on hearing that Phillips has no previous convictions, said he could narrowly avoid imposing a custodial sentence.

But he told Phillips: "In future, watch what you do with those fists of yours. They're lethal weapons."

Alexia Zimbler, prosecuting, said the incident took place late on a Saturday night last August as the victim, his girlfriend and her father were walking home through Shotton Colliery.

Passing a group including Phillips, comments were made to the girl, who told them to go away.

Phillips approached them and struck the 19-year-old twice with his clenched fist.

Bob Spragg, mitigating, said Phillips publicly apologises to his victim.

"He accepts he shouldn't have gone over. He acted on the spur of the moment."

Phillips was ordered to perform 180-hours community punishment, pay £750 compensation, and was given a three-month curfew forbidding him from leaving home between 8pm and 6am.