TWO men who brutally kicked a young man about the head in an ugly incident of violence in Stourbridge High Street have been spared jail.

Judge Michael Dudley at Wolverhampton Crown Court told Alexander Hadley and Derry Taylor: "If you kick someone when they are defenceless on the ground there is clearly the danger they will be killed.”

He warned the pair from Old Hill that when he first read the case papers there was no doubt they would be going straight to jail.

But he ruled he was just able to allow them to keep their freedom as they were both of "positive" good character and hard working.

Hadley, aged 23, and 22-year-old Taylor started kicking Stephen Hill after an argument in the High Street and their victim was left with bad bruising and swelling and he also lost a tooth - the court heard.

The judge added: "You are extremely fortunate this man was not more seriously injured. But the loss of a tooth is still a serious disfigurement."

Hadley, of Sidaway Street, and Taylor, of Pearson Street, admitted causing actual bodily harm and affray and they were both given a 12-month jail term suspended for two years.

They were also ordered to carry out 200 hours Community Punishment and to pay Mr Hill £1,629 compensation together with £600 costs.

The Judge said the case passed the custody threshhold by a large margin but it was clear there was another side to the defendants.

Helena Miller, prosecuting, said Mr Hill had to have his tooth - which was hanging loose - removed by a dentist and he then had to have a denture made. He now faces a further trip to the dentists for an implant.