A TEENAGER has been sent to youth custody for six months after a brick throwing incident.

The 17 year old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on 51 year old Christopher Chadwick.

Preston Crown Court heard that Mr Chadwick suffered a "large dent" at the front of his head from the attack which took place on October 28 last year.

He was walking along a cycle path between Morecambe and Lancaster towards Lancaster train station.

Outside the leisure centre he saw a group of eight youths who looked to be tying a rope across the path. They later told police they were undoing it.

Mr Chadwick spoke to the youths and received abuse. Some of them ran towards him with sticks. He said that he remembered ducking but still being hit by a brick or a stone thrown by the defendant.

Roger Baldwin, prosecuting, said Mr Chadwick suffered a 3cm laceration on the front of his head.

The teenager admitted he had thrown the brick. In an interview he stated: "I didn't know it had hit him. I didn't mean for it to hit him."

"I just wanted to scare him so he would leave me alone," he said.

Mr Keith Thomas, defending, said: "This defendant bitterly regrets what had happened." He said the teenager had been "larking about" with his friends at the time.

The boy, who is due to become a father, was sent to a young offenders institution for six months.

Judge John Townend said: "I accept that you are full of remorse."

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