A TEENAGER who left his victim with a smashed face and scarred after an unprovoked street attack in Burnley, has been spared jail.

Tommy Johnson suffered fractures to his cheekbone and eye socket and had to have surgery to put metal plates in his face after he was set upon from behind by Sean Rigg.

Rigg, 19, had punched Mr Johnson repeatedly in the head, after knocking him to the ground.

The victim was unconscious and was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital where he later had an operation, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The hearing was told how Mr Johnson had to have his cheekbone repositioned with a metal plate and a second plate was inserted to stabilise his eye socket.

Rigg, of Burnley Road, Bacup, who admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm, last June was given 52 weeks in custody, suspended for two years, with 200 hours unpaid work.

He must pay £1,000 compensation and £400 costs.

Silvia Dacre, prosecuting, said there had been bad feeling between the defendant and victim, but on the night of the offence they had seen each other by chance in Burnley town centre.

Mr Johnson was with a female and was walking away from Rigg, who then approached from behind and knocked him to the ground, hitting him four to five times in the head.

Alan Wolstenholme, for Rigg, said Rigg had been of exemplary character.

He worked for Marshalls Motor Vehicles Engineers and was a valued member of staff.

He added: “His remorse is concrete and demonstrable.”