A NEWPORT youth was yesterday convicted of a vicious attack on a Newport couple.

The 16-year-old, a persistent offender who cannot be named, carried out a frenzied assault with another youth on Tony Nocivelli and his wife, Donna, last month.

The youth - defendant A - pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm when he appeared before Cwmbran youth court.

He was sentenced to a community rehabilitation order of 18 months, and 80 hours' community punishment. He must also pay £100 compensation to Mr and Mrs Nocivelli.

Defendant B failed to turn up for court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Prosecutor Lisa James said defendant A hurled insults at Mrs Nocivelli, 30, as she went shopping.

She responded, and was later confronted by him and another 16-year-old persistent offender, defendant B.

Terrified Mrs Nocivelli tried to get past the youths, but was pushed and shoved by the boys and punched by defendant B.

At this point Tony Nocivelli, 45, came to help his wife, and was set upon by the pair, the youth court heard.

Defendant B came at Mr Nocivelli with gritted teeth, the court heard, and punched him to the ground, where defendant A began to repeatedly punch him to the head.

In court he also admitted kicking Mr Nocivelli in the head, something he earlier denied.

In the course of the attack defendant B twice bit Mr Nocivelli in the breast. Mr Nocivelli, an asthmatic, later required treatment at Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital for his injuries. His six-year-old daughter became hysterical at witnessing the harrowing attack, and called police, the court heard.

Defendant A's solicitor Stephanie Scanlon admitted the boy was a persistent young offender, who was not very articulate. She said: "He's certainly not the sharpest tool in the box."

The boy's father blamed his son's offending on his and his wife's recent divorce. He added: "It's like we don't know him any more."

The youth told the court he was sorry for the attack. "I wish it never happened," he said.

Chairman of the magistrates' bench Anthony Harris said: "This was a pretty nasty incident.

"Two of you attacked one man, an asthmatic, while his two young children looked on."

Victim's anger SPEAKING after the case, victim Tony Nocivelli blasted the youth's sentence as "disgusting".

"Me and my wife and children are still going through hell because of what he did," he said.

"My daughter is scared; she doesn't want to go out and cries all the time. A community punishment is ridiculous - a lout like him deserves to be locked up.

"The magistrates should get real and get a little tougher on criminals like him."

An emotional Mr Nocivelli added that he was "insulted" by the £100 compensation. He said: "It's nowhere near enough for what that lout put us through. I am so upset by this I don't know what to say. It's absolutely disgusting."