A TEENAGE boy from Darlington punched a young girl in the face, injuring her so badly she had to have emergency dental surgery, a court heard.

The 16-year-old youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm following a trial.

The teenager appeared before South Durham magistrates sitting in Darlington yesterday to be sentenced.

The incident happened in January outside a town nightclub.

The teenage victim was standing with a friend beside a burger van when the youth started talking to them.

The court heard he had been drinking and started making fun of the girl and his insults gradually became more offensive.

The victim's friend told the boy to leave them alone and it was at this point he became aggressive.

The youth punched the girl in her face and she fell backwards. She hit her head on the ground and was knocked unconscious.

She was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital, where a deep cut on the back of her head was stitched and where she had emergency dental surgery.

When charged with the offence, the youth initially denied the seriousness of the attack and claimed he struck out in self-defence.

However, the court heard that the details given about the victim's injuries at his trial had made him regret his actions.

Magistrates' chairman Derek Senior said: "We have before us a young man who hit a woman, which is a very serious offence.

"If you had not been out drinking, which you shouldn't have been at your age, this would not have happened."

Mr Senior also addressed the youth's parents and told them they should accept some responsibility for their son's actions.

The youth was given a three-month action plan order, which will look at anger management and alcohol misuse.

He was made to pay £150 compensation and £100 costs