A TEENAGER who carried out a “brutal attack” following a case of Chinese whispers has avoided an immediate prison sentence.

Connor Davis, 19, of Underwood Road, Eastleigh, punched Luke Whitlock twice in the face, leaving him with facial fractures.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Davis turned up to the victim’s ground floor flat in Harris Way, Eastleigh, on August 4 this year to confront him over claims he had been harassing an elderly lady.

Judge Gary Burrell heard how the incident was prompted by claims Mr Whitlock had been “causing bother” to 85-year-old Gwen Robson.

Davis turned up to the flat with another male and found a drunk Mr Whitlock on the sofa. Words were exchanged and Davis carried out the assault, the court heard.

The court heard how Mr Whitlock spent four days in hospital after the attack and suffered a fracture to his right eye orbit and zygomatic arch.

Davis pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and was previously warned he faced a potential jail sentence.

Louisa Bagley, defending, said information came to light that Mr Whitlock had threatened Miss Robson with a bottle – a claim made by a neighbour who said she took the bottle away.

But Miss Bagley said it was “right to say that it was a case of Chinese whispers.” She told the court: “There was background of this man causing problems with Miss Robson and she was not informing the family about those differences.

“But for those reasons alone Mr Davis made an incredibly stupid decision to go round and confront Mr Whitlock together with another male.

“He’s not a young man with a tendency to use violence – he doesn’t display characteristics of this type.”

Davis’ employer Colin Gentles and his father Sean pleaded with the judge not to send him to prison.

Judge Burrell QC sentenced Davis to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years. He ordered him to 200 hours unpaid community work and gave him a 12 months supervision order, with anger management sessions. Davis must also pay £1,000 in compensation to Mr Whitlock.

Judge Burrell QC said: “You could have killed him, you could have brain damaged him.”