A 27-YEAR-OLD Stourbridge steel worker who punched a man as he lay unconscious on the ground after an incident at a town centre nightspot has avoided jail.

The victim had been in Lloyds Bar when "something happened" and when he went outside he was headbutted to the ground - Geoffrey Dann, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court.

He said Lee New then went over to the man and lashed out with a single punch to the head.

Judge John Warner, said it was an aggravating feature of the case that the victim was out cold when he was struck.

He told New, of Worcester Street: "I accept you are are thoroughly ashamed of your actions and that you are remorseful."

New admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and he was placed on Supervision for a year.

He was further ordered to pay £300 compensation to the victim for his injury together with £200 towards prosecution costs.

Mr Dann said a co-defendant had denied an assault charge and he had been cleared by a jury at the end of his trial.

The victim, he told the court, told police officers later in a victim impact statement the incident had left him wary about going out at night.

Gurdeep Garcha, defending, said New expressed immediate shame and regrets for his actions.

Mr Garcha added: "He is ordinarily a sensible, hard working man who has always behaved well.

"He knows this will be the most expensive night out of his life. The injury suffered by the victim was relatively modest."