A DRUNKEN youth beat a man on his way to the shops with a metal bar because he thought he might be from another part of Warrington.

The 16-year-old, from Longford, attacked 18-year-old Christopher Smith on Friday, June 22, Warrington Youth Court heard on Monday.

The court heard Mr Smith was approached by a group of youths and asked if he was not from Woolston'.

Mr Smith was then beaten with the four foot long metal bar, leaving him with severe bruising to his arms and superficial cuts. He picked out the 16-year-old at an identity parade.

The 16-year-old is a persistent offender with 18 previous convictions, the court heard.

He told police he had drunk two-and-a-half pints of vodka at a fair on the day of the attack.

He said he had a fight with a member of another gang of youths from a different part of town, receiving a swollen cheekbone and inflicting a bloody nose.

After the fight he said a friend had given him the metal bar for his own protection. He later attacked the victim, who was not involved in the earlier gang trouble.

He pleaded guilty to inflicting actual bodily harm.

Geoffrey Billinge, chairman of the magistrates' bench, said he offence was aggravated because it was committed while on bail, a weapon had been used and because of the part played by alcohol.

"It could have caused serious injury, so serious that custody had been considered," said Mr Billinge.

He asked for an assessment of how dangerous an offender the 16-year-old might be, before sentencing, which is expected to take place on September 3.

sbailey@guardiangrp.co.uk