A NEW Year's Eve reveller must pay £750 to the youth he beat up in the dying hours of 2001.

Warren David Wilbraham, 22, launched an unprovoked street attack on his 17-year-old victim after drinking 16 to 18 pints in less than six hours, York Crown Court heard.

Helen Holmes, prosecuting, said the attacker twice punched the youth to the ground, then kicked him two or four times in the chest.

The attack, near the junction of Grosvenor Street and Burton Stone Lane in York, led to the youth being unable to work for two weeks.

Judge Peter Baker QC said it was a disgraceful example of drunken conduct, but Wilbraham's good work record meant that he did not have to jail him for it.

He ordered him to pay £750 compensation and £170 costs and do 150 hours community punishment.

Wilbraham, of Surtees Street, Clifton, pleaded guilty for causing actual bodily harm.

Miss Holmes said the attack at 10.45pm occurred as the youth was going to get a take-away and left him with a one-inch gash to the forehead, a swollen right eye and other injuries.

For Wilbraham, Geraldine Kelly said the attack was out of character, though the judge pointed out he had a record for public order offences.

Miss Kelly said that he was full of remorse and apologised for what he had done. He could not remember the events of New Years Eve.

He had since cut his drinking.

Updated: 11:27 Tuesday, March 19, 2002