AN ALRESFORD teenager who twice banged a male’s head on the ground has narrowly avoided a jail sentence.

The judge told Luke Joyce that the victim’s injuries could have been far more serious.

Winchester Crown Court heard that Joyce had got into an argument with a 15-year-old boy.

Another person, the victim later approached Joyce and asked why he had been aggressive.

A struggle started and it led to the victim falling to the ground in Mitford Road, Alresford.

Joyce, 19, of Grange Road, admitted assault.

Joyce was handed an eight months prison sentence suspended for one year.

The judge said that he would have been jailed for 12 months had he contested the case and been found guilty .

As Joyce admitted the offence, the judge said he could reduce it to eight months but suspend it for a year.

He was also ordered to do 180 hours community service and a 30-day rehabilitation requirement.