Teenager awaiting sentence after attack

AN ATTACK victim needed facial surgery after he was punched unconscious in the town centre, a court heard.

Bellal Syed, 18, is awaiting sentence at Ipswich Crown Court after admitting inflicting grievous bodily harm on the man in Woodbridge Road, Ipswich.

The court heard the casualty spent two days in hospital after the assault and then was readmitted for an operation.

His injuries included a broken and swollen left cheekbone, a bruise below his left eye, a burst blood cell in his left eye, two cuts on his forehead. He also had a bloodied nose.

Prosecutor Sandra Dyer said: "The victim saw a group of people approach him. He felt a sharp pain in his face. He was punched three to four times and fell to the ground and passed out.

"The incident lasted about five minutes and he was unconscious for about two of them."

In police interview Syed, of Waterworks Street, Ipswich, said the assault stemmed from an incident between his brother and the victim.

Ms Dyer said: "His brother pointed out the victim so he crossed the road to speak to him.

"The victim shoulder barged him so he carried on walking. He punched him protecting his little brother.

"Whatever the circumstances clearly the defendant took the law into his own hands resulting in him [the victim] being admitted twice into hospital and needing an operation under general anaesthetic."

The court heard the victim's face had healed well after the operation.

Naomi Turner, mitigating, said Syed's brother had been picked on and kicked by the victim the day before.

"Out of a sense of loyalty his brother went to speak to the youth and sort out the problem between the two of them.

"When the victim shoulder barged him and carried on walking the adrenaline rush came over him and he became angry and accepts he punched the victim two to three times."

Bench chairman Peter Page committed the case for sentence in the crown court on a date to be fixed.