A TEENAGER has been sentenced to one year s detention and training after a baseball bat attack. The 17-year-old from Stevenage, who cannot be named for legal reasons, launched the attack in the street in the town after a row with 21-year-old Brian Tutt ov

A TEENAGER has been sentenced to one year's detention and training after a baseball bat attack.

The 17-year-old from Stevenage, who cannot be named for legal reasons, launched the attack in the street in the town after a row with 21-year-old Brian Tutt over a computer game.

Peter Shaw, prosecuting, told St Albans Crown Court that the teenager told Mr Tutt that he was going to beat him up.

He returned with another youth who was armed with the bat, took it off him and struck the victim.

Mr Shaw said Mr Tutt said he was hit three times, but the defendant said there were only two blows. Mr Tutt suffered cuts to his head and chest.

After the attack the teenager ran off towards the A602 but was arrested nearby.

The teenager admitted wounding on July 2 this year. The court was told he had previous convictions for shouting racial abuse at a Chinese restaurant owner, causing actual bodily harm and battery. He was also in breach of two supervision orders.

Defence barrister Lawrence Selby asked for credit for the youth's guilty pleas. He said he had been getting drunk and smoking skunk - high strength cannabis.

Judge John Plumstead said: "He has no self control. He acts as if beating people was part of ordinary life."

But he said that after reading a probation report there were signs that he could be a "decent young man".

He told him: "There is a chance you can detox and give up drugs.