A TEENAGER has been jailed after aiming a kick at a man’s head “like taking a penalty”.

Ashley Cooper rained down punches and kicks on 18-year-old Jamie Smith as his victim lay prone in Abingdon Precinct.

The 17-year-old attacker, who the Oxford Mail can name after a judge lifted reporting restrictions, fractured Mr Smith’s arm as he tried to protect his face.

Cooper, of John Morris Road, Abingdon, has a history of violent offending including battery, affray, having an offensive weapon, threatening behaviour and possessing a bladed article.

In March 2009 he twice stabbed a female victim and had been released on licence from a young offenders’ institution just a month before attacking Abingdon College student Mr Smith on February 9.

Jon Sank, prosecuting at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, said: “The victim was being called names by a girl at his college. That girl’s ex-boyfriend was the defendant who was not a student at the college.

“A week before the assault, the defendant said to Mr Smith he wanted a word. Mr Smith feared the worst and ran away.

“On the day of the offence, in the middle of the afternoon, the defendant saw Mr Smith and shouted, ‘Jamie, get here now.’”

Mr Sank said the victim tried to run off but was caught near the Co-op store and assaulted in front of members of the public.

One witness, Mr Sank said, “saw the defendant punch Mr Smith to the floor. That punch was delivered while Mr Smith was crouched over, protecting himself”.

Mr Sank added: “Then, on the ground, he (Cooper) continued with numerous punches to his face. The witness went to intervene but couldn’t prevent the defendant from kicking his victim.

“He described the kick as ‘extremely hard, as if he was taking a penalty’. It appeared to be a kick to the head but it was blocked by Mr Smith’s arm.

“He cried out in pain and it seems most likely the kick caused the fracture to the arm. There was then a second kick delivered to the victim’s head.

“The defendant then stepped back, then went forward and threw another punch which caught Mr Smith in the face.”

When he was arrested shortly afterwards, Cooper struggled with officers before denying to them he had been at the scene.

He later admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Sophie Murray, defending, said her client had suffered with “alcohol and cannabis abuse” and had attempted to commit suicide after seeing a number of childhood friends die.

She added: “He clearly grew up seeing violence meted out on his mother.

“There was violence in the family situation from his father and step-father.

“He has had no strong male role models in his life.”

Recorder Rabinder Singh jailed Cooper for 30 months.