A Suffolk teenager who carried out a “cowardly and sickening” late night attack on a man which left him lying unconscious in the street has been locked up for four months.

A witness said Jordan Hughes had gone to the ground “like a rag doll” after being punched by Owen Thompson and described his head making a “horrific” noise as it hit the ground, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Matthew Sorel-Cameron, prosecuting, described the attack as “cowardly and sickening” and said that as Mr Hughes lay unconscious on the ground Thompson had stamped on his chest

Mr Hughes was taken to Addenbrooke’s hospital where he was placed in an induced coma.

He suffered bruising to his brain and fractures to his skull and spent three weeks in hospital. “It was unclear if he would survive, said Mr Sorel-Cameron.

Thompson, 18, of Snowdon Court, Haverhill admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Hughes and was sentenced to four months detention in a young offenders’ institution.

Also before the court were: Leyton George, 20, of Cramswell Crescent, Haverhill and Lewis Head, 19, of Butley Court, Haverhill.

George admitted affray, assault by beating, having an offensive weapon and breach of a suspended sentence. He was sentenced to four months youth detention with six weeks to run consecutively for the breach of the suspended sentence.

Head admitted having an offensive weapon and was given a six months detention suspended for 18 months.

Mr Sorel-Cameron said the violence towards Mr Hughes took place after Head and two other men were asked to leave the Royal Exchange pub in Haverhill after an incident involving another group of people.

Outside the pub there had been some pushing and shoving and during the incident Head had pulled out an extendable baton.

As he was putting the baton away it was grabbed by George who hit a member of the other group on the side of the head.

There had been an exchange of punches between Thompson and Mr Hughes and as Mr Hughes turned away he was struck by Thompson and ended up unconscious on the ground.

Joanne Eley for Thompson said he had brought shame on his family.

Giles Fleming said Head hadn’t struck anyone with the baton.

He said George had made a “stupid mistake” by becoming involved in the incident.