An 18-year-old trainee electrician who was involved in a fight that nearly killed a man was spared jail today.

Christopher Lawther was told by a judge he could have been in the dock facing a manslaughter charge because his victim's injuries had been so serious.

Teesside Crown Court heard David Hyde suffered a fractured skull and had to have an operation to remove a blood clot on his brain following the assault on February 20.

Christopher Knox, prosecuting, said Mr Hyde had been out with friends in Guisborough on the night of the attack.

Trouble erupted when his friend Jamie Oxley began greeting people in the vicinity in an Australian accent and one man took exception to it.

Mr Knox said: "Someone, not the defendant, struck Mr Oxley in the face and set about him.

"Mr Hyde went across to see what was going on and, it is apparent from witnesses, he was then assaulted by the defendant.

"He does not remember what happened to him but his friends described the defendant as going across to him, punching him in the face, punching him a number of times so he started to stagger backwards.

"Having dropped to his knees the assault continued with a reign of punches."

The victim then fell backwards hitting his head on the road, said Mr Knox.

The court heard Mr Hyde has since recovered from his injuries.

John Gillette, defending, said the teenager knew he had been inches away from facing a manslaughter charge and had too much to drink on the night.

He said: "He believes he was under some sort of threat but he accepts he went too far."

Judge Michael Taylor, said he would not jail Lawther, who was of previous good character, because he believed society would benefit more by not taking his liberty.

He said: "He could so easily have died. When people get involved in fights there is a chance people can fall."

Lawther of Barnaby Place, Guisborough was given 200 hours community punishment and ordered to pay £2,000 compensation and £500 costs.

He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.