Drunk teen punched stranger after running half-naked into road
A drunk teenager beat up a total stranger after forcing the motorist to a standstill by running half naked into the road, a judge heard.
Trouble flared after Shaun Cotton downed eight pints and two vodkas at a family party, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
The 18-year-old had been upset by comments made during the gathering about his late grandmother and hit out 'in frustration', it was claimed.
He dashed into Ashleigh Road, Tividale, and attacked 66-year-old Raymond Saunders after the passing driver was brought to halt by the antics of the defendant.
Mr John Brotherton, prosecuting, explained: "The defendant was screaming and not wearing a top when he appeared in front of the vehicle."
Cotton banged on the driver's door and punched the victim in the face when it was opened on the evening of September 17 last year, the court heard.
The attacker tried to pull the stunned motorist into the road but was prevented from doing this by the seat belt of Mr Saunders.
The teenager then punched the man in the face a second time and ran away, continued the prosecutor.
The victim, who was left with a bloody nose and other injuries, drove home before going to hospital where it was discovered that he had suffered a fractured cheekbone.
The defendant maintained he had delivered a single blow but his barrister, Mr Will Rose, said: "Whether there was one or two punches, thankfully the incident was over in a matter of seconds.
"This is a sad case because this young man has never been in trouble before and accepts that he had too much to drink at the party.
"During the evening he overheard comments made about his grandmother, with whom he had been very close and who had died earlier in the year.
"They were made during an argument between his parents and he took out his frustration on somebody who had nothing to do with the matter. This was an isolated incident that was completely out of character."
Cotton from Tower Road, Tividale, who had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and was given 51 weeks detention in a Young Offenders Institution suspended for two years.
He was also ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work and pay £250 compensation to the injured man.
Recorder Greg Pryce told him: "I was very troubled by whether or not to impose an immediate period of custody.
"People would expect a person who behaved as you did to end up in custody but I have decided to suspend the sentence because of your age and the fact that you have no previous convictions."
