A JUDGE has spared an attacker from prison after hearing of his good work with elderly people and disabled children.

Scott Sherlock was told he had come close to being locked up for an unprovoked assault on a man who was out drinking with friends shortly before last December.

Sherlock, 21, of the Byway, Darlington, admitted causing actual bodily harm to joiner Jeffrey Beaumont in the attack early on December 22.

Mr Beaumont was knocked unconscious and suffered a blood clot - almost a year on he still has headaches and memory loss.

He was awarded £2,500 compensation by Judge David Bryant, who sentenced Sherlock at Teesside Crown Court yesterday.

Sherlock was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work for the community and will be tagged for three months to stop him going out on Friday and Saturday nights.

Judge Bryant told him: "This was a very serious offence. There is far too much violence in the streets from drunk, loutish young men.

"But it is right to say that from reading the various documents placed before me, that although you behaved in a drunken loutish way on this particular occasion, there is a lot of good in you.

"A non-custodial sentence must be the exception rather than the rule for offences of this sort."

Jim Withyman, for Sherlock, had provided the judge with references from three employers, as well as three individuals who revealed details of Sherlock's voluntary and charity work.

Mr Withyman said: "He is aware that he must curb his behaviour while he is out in town and generally, and this has been a salutary reminder to him."

Paul Cleasby, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Beaumont was attacked after he left the Mardi Gras nightclub, in Darlington town centre, with three women who got involved in a shouting match with a group of other girls.

Mr Beaumont tried to resolve the dispute but was punched in the face by Sherlock. He fell back and knocked himself out on the ground.

He was in hospital for five days and was unable to return to work or drive for four months.