A FELIXSTOWE youth who gatecrashed a girl's party and attacked her grandfather has narrowly avoided jail.Karl Brown and his friends went to the party at Kirton Village Hall, drank bottles of wine provided for guests and became abusive.

A FELIXSTOWE youth who gatecrashed a girl's party and attacked her grandfather has narrowly avoided jail.

Karl Brown and his friends went to the party at Kirton Village Hall, drank bottles of wine provided for guests and became abusive.

At the end of the evening when the girl's granddad Frederick Last, who is in his 70s, asked the youths to leave, 18-year-old Brown punched him in the face.

"The impact was so hard that his glasses were smashed and they shattered into his eye. There was blood and he thought he had lost his eye," said Stephen Colman, prosecuting at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court.

Brown pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm on September 18.

Magistrate Leisha Klein told Brown: "You are very lucky that you have not gone to prison for this."

The court heard that the family party and disco had been going well until a group of youths including Brown, of Kiln Field, turned up uninvited.

Mr Colman said: "Initially they did not have them removed, to keep the peace, but they became abusive and a disturbance did occur and they were told to leave after the party finished.

"They were taking bottles of wine from the party and got aggressive when they were told not to."

Mr Colman said "sporadic" fighting broke out between the youths as they waited for taxis to arrive.

Mr Last said to the group: "Come on you guys you've had a good time. It's time to disperse now."

Mr Colman said the group did not even acknowledge him, but Brown turned towards him and Mr Last's son put his arms around his father to protect him as Brown swung a punch.

The court heard that Mr Last suffered to cut and bruised eye, and blood from his nose ruined his cravat and shirt.

Mr Last said he never expected to be assaulted because of his age.

He suffered from severe headaches for almost three months and was unable to pursue his favourite hobby as a model engineer while his glasses were being mended.

Mr Last said: "I cannot understand why people can be so vicious."

The court heard that Brown had two previous convictions for common assault and one for causing criminal damage.

Hugh Rowland, mitigating, said Brown was highly thought of by his family and employer, but had an alcohol problem that needed to be addressed.

Mrs Klein said: "We view this assault as a serious offence and custody was considered but we are going to give you the opportunity to address your alcohol abuse."

Brown was sentenced to 12 months community rehabilitation and he was made the subject of a six months curfew order, which prevents him from leaving his house between 8pm and 6am.

Brown was also ordered to pay £489 compensation to Mr Last to cover his injury and the cost of his glasses, and he was told to pay £43 towards court costs.