A 20-YEAR-OLD was told he should feel ‘very fortunate’ to escape jail for his involvement in an attack on two teenagers.

Preston Crown Court heard Emile Nicol, of Ivinson Road in Darwen, kicked a 15-year-old boy in the face while a 17-year-old hit a 14-year-old in the head with a hockey stick.

Nicol, whose sister Sky died in 2016 after taking a cocktail of drugs, pleaded guilty to common assault.

He received a three month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to carry out 12 months unpaid work in the community.

His co-defendant, now 18, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to 27 months in prison after pleading guilty to assaulting a teenager with a hockey stick.

The incident happened last year in a skate park off Olive Lane in Darwen on January 8 2017, the court heard.

Prosecuting, Alison Mather said at around 4.30pm the two victims were in the skate park with another friend.

They were then involved in shouting with a group of children around the age of 11 to 15 across the road and items were thrown.

The court heard five minutes later, Nicol and the other boy came into the park looking to find the people responsible for the earlier incident.

Ms Mather said Nicol kicked a 15-year-old boy in the face, causing him injuries around the mouth, dislodging his dental brace and giving him a swollen finger.

A 14-year-old was hit with a hockey stick by the 17-year-old, suffering a fractured skull and a fractured arm.

The judge, Recorder Clive Barker said it was down to luck the injuries suffered were not more severe.

He said both defendants went to the park ‘with violence in mind’.

He said: “They are both still young men. I hope you are ashamed.

“The trauma of the event will last a long time for the boys involved.”

Both defendants had a ‘very bad record of past offences for young men’ the court heard.

Nicol was told by Recorder Barker he should ‘feel very fortunate’ to avoid prison.

Isobel Thomas, defending Nicol, said he has had a difficult few years with the death of his sister Sky age 16 from a drug-related death.

His uncle also died in January this year, the court heard.

Ms Thomas said: “He said he wants to grow up and doesn’t want to keep finding himself in trouble.

“He is still relatively young, he was only 19 at the time.

“He knows how he has behaved is wrong."