THREE teenagers were heard laughing and boasting following a "cowardly and unprovoked" street attack on a man in Newport, a court was told.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how the 24-year-old victim had been punched in the face, jumped on and kicked during the assault which happened while he was walking home during the early hours of September 27 last year.

The attack had led to the victim, who was not named in court, losing consciousness and thinking he was going to die, the court heard.

Niall O'Connell, aged 19, of Henry Morgan Close in Duffryn, Newport; Brandon James, aged 18, of Heron Way in Duffryn, Newport; and a 16-year-old, who cannot be named, appeared at the court for sentencing after admitting the attack.

O'Connell and James both pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm at court while the juvenile had pleaded guilty to assault occasioning ABH at an earlier hearing.

Prosecutor Eugene Egan said the trio, led by O'Connell, walked after the complainant as he walked home between 2am and 3am on September 27 last year.

O'Connell asked the man if he had a problem with his dad before punching him in the face repeatedly with both fists, Mr Egan said.

The court then heard how one of the other defendants tripped him over to the floor before O'Connell jumped on him and bit his forearm as the three kicked and stamped on the complainant until he lost consciousness.

When the complainant came around, he could hear the three laughing and boasting, the court heard.

Mr Egan added the victim was off work for two weeks due to the attack and could therefore not finish his six-month probation period with his new employers, resulting in him failing to secure a permanent job.

O'Connell was on bail for robbing a Newport taxi driver - for which he was given a 24-month jail sentence in March - at the time of this incident.

Nigel Fryer, defending O'Connell, said his client apologised "sincerely and profusely" for his "disgraceful behaviour", adding: "The experience of custody thus far has been remarkable in this young man's case."

Gareth Williams, defending the other two defendants, admitted the attack was "appalling" but said his clients had played subordinate roles. James had been in custody since January for breaching the conditions of his bail.

Judge Patrick Curran QC said: "It was a cowardly and unprovoked attack - three of you onto one, in the street in the early hours of the morning.

"It was a sustained assault involving kicking and stamping. Your victim lost consciousness, he thought he was going to die.

"When he recovered consciousness he heard you laughing and boasting at what you had done to him."

Judge Curran QC sentenced O'Connell to two years and four months in jail.

James was given 18 months in detention, while the minor was given four months' detention and training.