A SELF-CONFESSED 18-year-old ‘idiot’ who beat a youth to the floor in an unprovoked drunken attack may face a spell behind bars.

Jan Walker, of Moorland Road, appeared at North Somerset Courthouse in St Georges on April 13 charged with common assault after he, and two unknown men, cornered a youth as he left his home in Severn Road. The court heard how Walker and his accomplices circled the victim after he left his homeless shelter with a female friend.

Kelly Marshall, prosecuting, said: “The victim was confronted by three men who positioned themselves in a triangle around him.

“Walker grabbed him by the left arm and said ‘that’s what you get for being mouthy the other day. I told you I would knock you out’.”

The victim was punched in the face before falling to the floor where all three men kicked him while he lay on the ground. After managing to get to his feet the victim was hit again before he ‘blacked out’.

Ms Marshall added: “This was a serious incident as it was a group action. There were kicks while he was on the floor and he had an injury to his right eye.”

Ms Marshall said the men were drinking and as Walker, who has anger management issues, was recognised by the victim, he was later arrested.

Walker, a prolific offender, pleaded guilty to the offence, which occurred on April 11.

Judith Mills, defending, said Walker had little recollection of the incident as he was so intoxicated.

Ms Mills added: “It was his friend’s birthday and they had been drinking all day.

“He said it was a result of being drunk and being an ‘idiot’ and he readily acknowledges that he was in the wrong.”

Magistrate Peter Searle said the nature of the crime fell into the ‘custody threshold’ but adjourned the matter for a pre-sentence report.

Walker was bailed to an address in Birmingham until May 4 for his sentencing.