THREE youths who were angry over an England football result attacked a taxi driver in Malvern, a court heard.

Phillip Juden, aged 19, punched Dwayne Lloyd after he was felled by another teenager.

Mr Lloyd was taken to hospital unconscious and there is medical inquiry into his fitness to drive, said Ruona Iguyovwe, prosecuting.

Juden, of York Close, Malvern, admitted assault causing bodily harm and was ordered to pay the victim £500 compensation.

He was also given 100 hours community service and a two-year community rehabilitation order.

Judge David McEvoy QC said the sentence had to be comparable to those handed down by magistrates to the accomplices, aged 16 and 17.

If the case had not been dealt with "in piecemeal fashion" he would have considered custodial sentences for the trio.

"This was a disgusting incident," he added but accepted that kicks delivered did not come from the defendant.

Miss Iguyovwe told Worcester Crown Court that on Wednesday, August 15, England lost a match which left the trio unhappy.

They became loud and abusive, approaching Mr Lloyd in York Close, where he was assaulted.

He had rib cage injuries, two black eyes, head lacerations and a damaged ear lobe. On arrival at hospital he suffered a fit and needed a scan on his head. The vehicle licensing authority was liaising with his doctor.

Juden, who had no previous convictions, confessed to drinking nine pints of beer. He said they were in a bad mood because of the soccer result.

He claimed he waded in after Mr Lloyd head-butted one of his friends. One of the others had stamped on the victim's head as he lay helpless.

Nicolas Cartwright, defending, said Juden did not use his feet in the attack.

His mother helped the victim and his brother pointed out at the scene that the defendant was one of the attackers.