AN "AGGRESSIVE" teenager who attacked a man during a pub's clog cobbing day has been spared a jail sentence.

Ricardo Anthony Ferdenzi, 19, punched Gary Pickles and kicked him at least once in the head when he was down, which, Burnley Magistrates were told, would normally lead to an immediate jail term.

The defendant was told by the magistrates he had been a "very very lucky young man," and they did not want to see him before them again.

The chairman added: "Get yourself a job and get your life in order. Let's get this anger and aggression sorted out."

The bench added the attack, in April, had been deliberate and unprovoked.

Ferdenzi, of Ashworth Road, Waterfoot, had earlier admitted assault causing actual bodily harm. He was given a two-year community rehabilitation order, to include the Think First programme, and ordered to pay £300 compensation.

Elizabeth Reed, prosecuting, said the victim tried to shake hands with the defendant at the Roebuck, Burnley Road East, Waterfoot, but Ferdenzi simply hit him in the face.

Mr Pickles fell to the floor and was kicked, but managed to get up. His head was very sore and was hurting and he couldn't open his eyes.

Mr Pickles knew Ferdenzi by sight and gave police a description of him. He was even able to tell officers what sort of car the defendant drove as he used to work in a service station.

Mrs Reed said an ambulance was called and Mr Pickles was taken to hospital. He suffered bruising to both temples, his cheek and lip were swollen and he had a cut, but an X-ray revealed no bone injury.

The prosecutor told the court the complainant's father had witnessed the trouble and said the defendant at first had run up to him. Mr Pickles senior said he had told him: "Don't hit me I have got a hole in my heart."

Ferdenzi replied: "OK" and then ran off. When he was spoken to by police, he admitted he did it.

Mrs Reed said the defendant had claimed he had gone to confront Mr Pickles about an incident and thought he wanted to fight. He claimed the victim provoked him, he then threw the first punch and Mr Pickles hit him back.

Bill Rawstron, defending, said the defendant had not been drinking. Since April Ferdenzi had been bailed to live away from home. His family was close-knit and supportive and had never come to the adverse attention of the courts before. Ferdenzi's parents were upstanding members of the community and had been torn apart by the proceedings.

Mr Rawstron added the defendant, who had earlier been remanded, had a taste of custody and hated it. He was terrified it would happen to him again.