A LEADING students' union official from Newport has escaped jail despite admitting his part in a "relentless attack" on another man.

Deputy president of New-port students' union Justin Roberts, 25, who is to take a Masters Degree in business studies, was seen by a witness near Newport Art College repeatedly kicking Andrew Hiscox "as if he was taking a penalty", Cardiff crown court heard.

Another man, Samuel Couture, 23, was seen stamping on Mr Hiscox's head and making it bounce on the ground, said prosecutor Meirion Davies.

Mr Hiscox was left unconscious by the attack.

Roberts, of Heol-y-Groes, Newport, and Couture, of Cyril Street, Newport, each admitted a charge of causing actual bodily harm.

Roberts was sentenced to a community punishment order for 200 hours and Couture to a similar order for 150 hours.

Roberts was also ordered to pay the victim £500 compensation and Couture, £250 compensation.

Judge David Wyn Morgan told Roberts that he might be well thought of by people, but that was not a view shared by the court.

The judge said: "What you did was simply disgraceful. Reflect upon it. If you didn't have so much to lose you might have found yourself going into custody for a lengthy period of time."

Couture, he said, played a lesser part in the attack and had written a letter of apology to the court which was "a model of its kind".

Mr Davies said that in the early hours of September 20 following a night out in Newport, Mr Hiscox and two friends saw Roberts approach them saying: "I'll take the three of you on."

"He was ranting and raving," said Mr Davies. Shortly after, near the art college, Mr Hiscox "was seized and remembers nothing until he woke up in the city's Royal Gwent Hospital".

Motorist Robert Baines saw the two attacking Mr Hiscox. Couture, said Mr Davies, was seen stamping powerfully on his head.

Mr Baines said: "I could hear his head thumping and bouncing on the ground." Mr Baines administered first aid to the victim who was bleeding from his face and had blood coming out of both ears.

The police arrested the two in Colne Street, one was hiding in a garden the other under a car.

Mr Hiscox was treated for extensive bruising and swelling to the face and cuts and abrasions.

Couture was said to have a conviction for wounding.