A TEENAGER has been sentenced to five months inside a young offenders institute after a victim tracked him down using social networking website Bebo.

Benjamin Newman was sitting in his parked car when 18-year-old Joshua Johnson repeatedly punched him in the face before opening the vehicle's door and kicking the victim in the ribs.

Johnson's actions were condemned by District Judge Bruce Morgan who called it "mindless, thuggish behaviour".

"It was a cowardly attack on a man in a vulnerable position and to some extent a prolonged attack which resulted in some nasty injuries," he said. "It was an offence committed at 4pm while drunk and all while on bail for headbutting."

Johnson, of Damson Way, Suckley, near Malvern, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm as well as causing £258.50 damage to Mr Newman's Peugeot 106 when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court yesterday.

Douglas Marshall, prosecuting, said Mr Newman was sitting in his parked car in Gresham Road, Dines Green, Worcester, when the incident happened on Tuesday, July 24.

Mr Marshall said Johnson approached the car and started asking Mr Newman who he knew in the area and what cars he used to drive. Mr Marshall said once Mr Newman confirmed his name Johnson "flipped" and launched his attack which resulted in Mr Newman losing a cap from a tooth, getting a bruised right eye, bruising to his head, and sore ribs.

"Having been assaulted Mr Newman carried out his own investigation and using an internet social networking site he located a photo of the defendant and that was passed on to the police," said Mr Marshall.

The court was told how Johnson was heavily intoxicated and in an angry mood following an argument minutes before.

In mitigation Suzy Duncan said the incident was "completely out of character" for Johnson who she said was, at the time, having trouble with his drink and hanging out with people he has since severed all contact with.

She said Johnson thought Mr Newman had contributed to the breakdown of a relationship with a girlfriend and that threats had been made to him, but added "he fully accepts that's no excuse even if that were true".

"He has seen the victim since the offence on several occasions and has wished to apologise to him in person but has felt too embarassed and didn't know what to say," she said.