A “HALFWIT” hooligan who battered an innocent man on the seafront has been spared prison.

Billy Kent got involved in a drunken row against Ricky Clements, who was out with his girlfriend in Hastings, Hove Crown Court heard.

After a woman randomly accused Mr Clements, Kent waded in as the fight erupted.

Kent punched the victim and booted him on the floor, and when friends tried to pull him away he returned three times to continue the violence.

Judge Paul Tain imposed a suspended sentence after reading a letter from the victim and references testifying how Kent, now 19, had turned his life around.

Warwick Tatford, prosecuting, said the incident happened on September 23, 2017.

He said: “Mr Clements had been at the amusement arcades with his partner and was returning to his car.

“An unknown woman started to make complaints about them, and in her drunkenness an argument broke out.

“In the fight, this defendant had a considerable role. Another man hit Mr Clements with a bottle.

“He curled himself up on the ground to protect himself. Witnesses and CCTV footage shows three separate attacks, and this defendant was at the heart of all three.”

Kent, of Harley Shute Road, St Leonards, admitted inflicting actual bodily harm.

James Hay, defending, said other youths involved were given referral orders after the incident.

Judge Tain said: “When you are not drinking or hanging around with potentially violent halfwits, you have the capacity to be a constructive member of the community.

“This was a short term piece of craziness, the consequences of which you now realise.

“It is something of a miracle that the victim was not more seriously injured.

“The victim is a nice person and wishes you no ill will, he hopes you can sort your life out, which is a commendable position to take.

“While you were a halfwit, you have started realising what you need to do to sort your life out.”

Kent was given an 18-month suspended sentence with 100 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation sessions.