A TEENAGE thug who repeatedly punched and kicked a stranger in an unprovoked attack has been spared jail.

Hayden Matthews, of Hitchman Drive, Chipping Norton, appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday.

The 18-year-old was sentenced in relation to one incident of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in Chipping Norton on May 14.

The court heard that Matthews was at the Sainsbury’s car park in Chipping Norton shortly before 7pm waiting for a friend.

The victim then ‘was unfortunate enough to catch his eye’ prosecutors said and Matthews asked him ‘what he was looking at.’

What followed was described by witnesses as a ‘violent crazed attack’ in which Matthews punched his victim five times before kicking him twice.

After his arrest he was described as ‘uncooperative and violent’ but later admitted the single count of violence.

A victim personal statement revealed that the victim since suffers from anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

In mitigation at yesterday’s hearing defence barrister Rhianna Fricker said that her client had not been in any trouble before and the incident was ‘completely out of character.’ Sentencing, Judge Nigel Daly said the offence passed custody threshold but could be suspended.

Matthews was jailed for eight months suspended for 18 months and he must carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and 15 days rehabilitation activity requirement.

He was also ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to his victim.