A TEENAGER who attacked a man in Dumbarton until he was knocked unconscious has been locked up for eight months.

The 17-year-old, who can’t be identified for legal reasons, argued through his solicitor that he deserved to remain in the community with more support after a difficult childhood.

He previously pleaded guilty to assaulting a man, punching him to the head causing him to fall to the ground and then kicking and stamping on his head.

He was on bail from May 2017 at Glasgow Sheriff Court at the time.

Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard how at around 12.50am on July 1, police were passing near a grass area in Comelybank Road when they saw a stand-up fight between the two males.

The victim regained consciousness after “a few minutes” and the attacker saw police stopping their vehicle and ran off. He was caught after a short chase and arrested.

Paramedics checked the victim and he was found fit to be released. He refused to go to hospital or to give his details to police.

Defence solicitor Judith Reid admitted “little if anything” could be said in mitigation for the incident.

She told the court: “The social work report says he can effectively not remember what happened.

“He is only 17 years old and has certainly had a very troubled childhood lacking in stability.”

Ms Reid added that the teenager had completed an apprenticeship “against the odds”.

Sheriff William Gallacher noted the teenager still had 133 hours outstanding of a separate community payback order.

He branded the July 1 incident a “wanton and sustained attack”.

Sheriff Gallacher then ordered the 17-year-old be detained for a total of eight months.