A TEENAGER has lost his appeal against a period of detention for a 'frenzied attack' which left his victim with a smashed nose and jaw.

Burnley Crown Court heard that the 'impressionable' 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was already subject to a referral order for two assaults when he set upon the 14-year-old victim without any 'sensible justification.'

He repeatedly kicked the teenager in the face, head and body in April.

Judge Peter Smith said the victim estimated he had been struck between 18 and 20 times. He dismissed the appeal against a four-month detention and training order.

The Haslingden teenager had earlier admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and had been sentenced by Rossendale youth court.

The court was told the complainant was with friends in a park when he was attacked. The victim ended up with a broken nose and jaw, blood clots in his nostrils, swelling to his jaw and two chipped teeth.

He also had injuries to his bottom lip and bruises on his chest.

Neil Fryman, for the appellant, said the 16-year-old had pleaded guilty and did not call for a trial. That showed his remorse.

Since the offence, he had made up with the victim and said he was sorry. He accepted kicking and punching but there was a background to the offence.

The victim had been a nuisance to one of the appellant's friends but he went well over the top in the confrontation. Mr Fryman said the appellant was not a young man with a long record. He had matured since the offence and grown up a lot.

The barrister went on: "Of course it could be said he should have thought about that when he went and hit this young man, but young boys perhaps don't have that at the forefront of their minds. He certainly has that at the forefront of his mind now."

Mr Fryman said the appellant, who was now at college, wanted to go into the Army and had not been in trouble for seven months.

He had been remanded in custody for a short period of time and that had had a salutary effect upon him. He was at risk of re-offending but it was not a very high risk.

The 16-year-old had been impressionable in the past.

If he was sent to detention it may send him down the wrong path and he may come out worse than when he went in.