A VALLEYS man says he feels let down by the justice system after two teenagers who beat him almost unconscious escaped time behind bars.

Andrew Weetman, 49, suffered cuts and bruising to his face and body, and a suspected broken nose when he was attacked near Premier Stores in Apollo Way, Blackwood, in January.

He now suffers constant headaches, leg pain, and frequent nosebleeds, and is afraid to go out at night alone.

Ryan Johnson, 18, of Bedwellty Road, Cefn Fforest, and Jack Cox, 18, of Apollo Way, Blackwood, were fined £110 after they were found guilty of assaulting Mr Weetman by beating following a trial at Caerphilly Magistrates’ Court on April 3.

Mr Weetman was at Premier Stores around 6pm on the night of the attack and suspected the pair of shop lifting when he saw a bottle of alcohol fall from inside one of their coats and smash on the floor. He told the shopkeeper, who took no action, and left the shop.

He said Johnson and Cox followed him and began swearing at him and pushing him from behind.

They knocked him to the ground causing his head to smash against a car, before they continued to punch him as he lay on the ground.

Mr Weetman says he could feel himself losing consciousness when a friend eventually came to his aid. He called the police and the pair ran off.

They were later arrested and denied the assault but were found guilty after trial.

Mr Weetman says the attack has left him feeling very vulnerable and he fears going out alone at night.

He believes a fine is not enough punishment enough for what they did to him and for the continued trauma it had caused him.

He said: "I am very annoyed, If my friend hadn’t have come out I would probably be dead by now. I can’t forget it, in the nights I really hate being out in the dark."

As well as the fine, Johnson and Cox were made to pay £400 costs, £100 compensation and a £20 victim surcharge.