TWO men who "brutally assaulted" their victim by punching him at least 17 times and stamping on his head, have been given community orders.

Liam Higgins, 19, of East Pentwyn, Blaenau Gwent, and Connor Williams, 20, of The Rise, Nantyglo, appeared at Newport Crown Court today, having pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm.

The court was told that the victim overheard one of the defendants, after they had spotted him, say: "He is having it".

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Prosecutor Nuhu Gobir said: “The victim on the evening Friday, 28 July 2017 went to Ebbw Vale town for an evening out with friends.

"The victim was merry but fully aware of what was happening. Two of his friends later made their way home. The victim made his way to the taxi rank with a friend. They wanted a taxi home. Having waited for some time with no taxi arriving they decided to walk home separately.

"The victim walked past the two defendants who were walking in the opposite direction. But he remembers, as they passed him, one of them say 'he is having it'. He did not know them.

"His next recollection is waking up with police, before going to Nevill Hall Hospital. The assault was captured on CCTV. "

He added: "He gets knocked to the floor. Liam Higgins walks towards him as he is laying down and stamps on his head. And then Connor also joins in - throwing at least 17 punches towards the victim."

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Mr Gobir proceeded to read out a statement from the victim, which said: "As a result of this assault I had to have medical attention.

"Since the incident I was worried about going out. The assault was unprovoked and [it has] taken a number of months to come to terms with it."

Mitigating, Peter Donnison and Claire Wilks both said the risk of the pair re-offending was "low".

Mr Donnison, who was representing Higgins, said: “He has no previous convictions and had just turned 18 at the time of the offence. He is in employment. Turning to the pre-assessment itself, he is at low risk of re-offending."

Judge Dan Williams described the assault as "mindless", saying: “Without any provocation the two of you set upon him. He was brutally assaulted by you two. You repeatedly punched him. It is a shameful assault. It is a mindless and cowardice assault."

The pair were ordered to serve 180 hours of unpaid work over 18 months. They were also told to pay an £85 surcharge.