A MAN who “slashed” a teenager with a screwdriver was found high and downing Jägermeister, a court heard.

Lewis Richards targeted 18-year-old Jack Allwood and his 17-year-old friend who were out with two others in Eastleigh town centre.

The 23-year-old grabbed a screwdriver from his bag and slashed Mr Allwood before bundling the other victim against Domino’s shop front in Leigh Road.

His actions were brought to an end when a member of the public “dealt him some summary justice”, taking the weapon and disposing of it.

Tom Wright, prosecuting, told the court that Richards had been talking to a group of girls, drinking the German spirit at around 10.30pm on November 17, 2016.

A group of four teenagers then got out of their car near KFC before Richards began shouting at them.

He said: “He challenged them. He was telling them to not look.”

In CCTV footage shown during the hearing at Southampton Crown Court, Richards was then seen to fetch a “medium” length screwdriver from his bag.

Mr Wright said: “The group wisely got out of his way but Mr Allwood was bundled against a shop window.

“He was held with his left hand. He got close to Mr Allwood and with his right hand slashed across Mr Allwood’s t-shirt.”

The prosecution said Richards admitted he had the screwdriver with him as he was going to “repair his motorcycle”.

The court heard that a member of the public then handed Richards “some summary justice” by pinning him up against KFC’s shop window, as another passerby took the screwdriver and disposed of it in a nearby bin.

Mitigating, Chris Gaiger said his client had “difficulties with accommodation and with alcohol” and that Richards was under the influence of illegal drugs.

He added that Richards now lived with his mother and only used “cannabis recreationally” and was “a social drinker”.

In sentencing, Judge Christopher Parker QC said Richards actions that night were “potentially lethal”.

He added: “When somebody is armed with a sharp weapon, in drink and angry, anything can happen and often does.”

Richards, of Warren Avenue, Shirley, was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

He was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and to pay £250 costs.