Oxford Crown Court was told oil worker Raymond Fielding launched a violent attack on a youth he suspected of being a car thief, writes Colin Fenton.

But he escaped a jail term because the judge believed he had made a genuine attempt to protect his friend's car.

Fielding, 28, of Eastfield Road, Witney, was walking home with a friend after a pub visit on August 27 last year, when he saw a youth acting suspiciously near the vehicle.

When the youth appeared to square up to him, the court heard that Fielding struck out first with "two terrific blows" and felled the youngster and followed up with two kicks to his head. John Small, prosecuting, said the victim was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where surgeons inserted plates and screws into damaged sections of his lower jaw. He was unable to eat solid foods for four weeks.

Philip Gray, defending Fielding, said: "He genuinely regrets causing those serious injuries and is bewildered and frightened to appear before a criminal court.

"He had been drinking and thought an offence was being committed. Before using any force he shouted at the youth to go away. No force was offered until he saw the youth pull his arm back. My client hit him but accepts he should not have kicked him." Fielding admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

Sentencing him to a six-month jail sentence suspended for two years, Judge Anthony King told him: "This sentence is on the basis that you genuinely believed a young person was trying to break into your friend's car.

"This case shows what leads on from gratuitous violence, but I am persuaded I can take an exceptional course and suspend your sentence."

He ordered Fielding to pay the victim 700 compensation and prosecution costs of 414.