A TEENAGER has been jailed for six months for an unprovoked nightclub attack which left his victim unconscious for 12 minutes.

Blackburn magistrates watched closed circuit television footage of the attack on Craig McDonald in Never Never Land on Christmas Eve.

The images showed Arran John Malpass, 19, launch himself towards Mr Craig before unleashing what Neil Standage, prosecuting, described as a "haymaker."

And as the victim lay on the floor, clearly unconscious, another man stamped on his head, the court was told.

Malpass, of Faroes Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm. Sentencing him to their maximum penalty of six months, the chairman said they considered it a serious offence aggravated by the fact that it was totally unprovoked and the fact that Malpass had previous convictions for violence.

The series of still images played in court showed Mr McDonald standing at the bar as Malpass came into shot.

He walked parallel to the bar until he was level with Mr McDonald and then let fly.

Mr McDonald fell to the floor immediately and remained there until he was picked up by another man.

Mr Standage said the victim would have been able to tell the court very little about the incident.

He was just standing at the bar when he was assaulted from behind. "As a result he was unconscious for 12 minutes and was detained in hospital," said Mr Standage. "He needed stitches to a cut inside and outside his cheek and has been left with a permanent scar. Additionally, he says that he is frightened to socialise.

"When he does, he only feels safe if he is out with a large group of friends."

Michael Blacklidge, defending, said it was a shocking incident that was admitted and accepted by his client.

He said Malpass had drunk five or six bottles of lager in the afternoon and had gone to Blackburn town centre in the evening.

He had drunk about another eight pints before going to Never Never Land.

He said there was an incident in which the victim had banged into one of Malpass' friends and words were exchanged.

The friend walked away but Malpass walked up and punched Mr McDonald in the face.