TWO teenage thugs who broke a youth’s jaw while knocking him out twice in a “cowardly” attack at a young offenders’ institution have been given a further 12 months’ detention.

Tamaine Clarke, 16, and Christopher Ndingameote, 17, approached a fellow inmate at Warren Hill, Hollesley, from behind before punching him, and stamping on him when he was on the ground.

An order banning the pair’s identification was lifted when the teenagers appeared for their sentencing at Ipswich Crown Court, after previously admitting grievous bodily harm with intent.

Sentencing them Judge David Goodin said: “I hope that, in the time available to you for reflection, that you might see this in old fashioned terms, a thoroughly craven, cowardly attack – the pair of you approaching an unsuspecting, unaware, and back-turned (victim) to thump him to the ground, knock him unconscious, chase him thereafter, and at some stage break his jaw.

“It was a brutal, cowardly and sustained attack for which there could be no mitigation at all.”

Prosecutor Richard Kelly had previously told the court that before the attack the victim had declined an invitation to go into the showers for a chat with the pair following a dispute. As the teenager sat playing on a PlayStation in the recreation area, Clarke and Ndingameote walked behind him, followed by others in order to shield the pair from prison officers’ sight.

Without warning Ndingameote punched the victim several times to the right-hand side of the face, causing him to fall from the chair, before stamping on his head.

Clarke also punched the teenager during the incident. A DVD of the attack was shown in court.

The attackers then sat down for 15-20 seconds.

When their victim regained consciousness, although unsteady on his feet, he attempted to throw a chair at Ndingameote.

As he tried to do so Clarke got up and chased him across the room before delivering a knock-out blow to the head, leaving the youth face down and unconscious on the floor.

The court heard Ndingameote, of London, is serving 36 months for robbery.

His previous convictions included other robberies, thefts, a drug offence, breach of supervision requirements, possession of offensive weapon and affray.

Clarke, also from London, has convictions for possessing an offensive weapon, possessing cannabis, robbery and failing to abide by court orders. He is currently serving 12 months for supplying cocaine.