A 22-YEAR-OLD Stourbridge man who knocked a teenager unconscious in a "nasty, unprovoked and vicious" attack has been spared jail.

Dwayne Wright left Derek Pye nursing a 2" cut to his head that had to be glued together, a swollen eye and lip and grazing.

Richard Davenport, defending, told Wolverhampton Crown Court: "He accepts he was completely out of control in this incident,"

Wright, he added, knew alcohol was no excuse for "yobbish behaviour" and went on: "He is totally ashamed of what he did."

Wright, of Bredon Road, admitted assaulting 19-year-old Mr Pye causing him actual bodily harm and also being in possession of a lock knife.

He was given a 44-week jail sentence suspended for two-years and also made the subject of an 18-month Supervision Order.

Judge Rose Bush further told Wright he must pay Mr Pye £250 compensation for his injuries together with £500 towards prosecution costs.

She told him: "You are not a stupid man, you are an intelligent man and you know full well this was appalling behaviour. But there is hope you will learn from what you did that night."

Miss Alka Brigue, prosecuting, said Mr Pye was with friends when Wright approached, asked him if he knew another man and, when he replied "yes" - he punched him in the face.

Police officers were on the scene outside a BP garage in Netherton within minutes and, when they searched the car Wright was travelling in, they found the silver handled lock knife.

Mr Davenport said Wright, who admitted the offences constituted breach of a Community Order for being in possession of a knife, stressed that he was now determined to put his life back on the rails.