A drunken teenager has been found guilty of attacking a complete stranger just feet from two police officers on patrol.
Joseph Micklewright had been celebrating his 18th birthday when he knocked out victim Richard Livsey and left him with serious head injuries.
His attack was not only captured on two different CCTV systems but witnessed by a police patrol who arrested him within two metres of the attack scene.
Micklewright, now aged 19, claimed he was acting in self defence but a jury at Exeter Crown Court found him guilty unanimously after watching the CCTV footage.
He was cleared of attacking a police sergeant after telling a jury he was struggling to get away rather than trying to injure him.
Micklewright, of Park Road, Torquay, denied causing grievous bodily harm but was convicted. He was acquitted of assaulting Police Sergeant Nicholas Healey with intent to resist arrest.
Recorder Miss Sarah Vaughan-Jones adjourned sentence for a probation report and released Micklewright on bail. She made no promises about sentence.
During the three day case the jury at Exeter Crown Court watched CCTV which showed him landing at least one punch on rugby fan Richard Livsey, who was knocked unconscious and fell into Torwood Street in Torquay.
The footage showed him being arrested by a policeman within two seconds but struggling and running away from the scene.
Micklewright claimed he was acting in self defence and feared he was about to be attacked by Mr Livsey, who is 6'2'', weighs 13 stone and is aged 27.
He was convicted after the jury watched the CCTV which showed he had every chance to run away but had pushed past his girlfriend and rushed towards Mr Livsey.
The victim suffered a broken skull, bleeding on the brain, partial loss of hearing, tinnitus, and epilepsy and had lost his job as a driver as a result of the attack.
He was attacked as he walked to a club after watching a rugby game at a pub in February 2013.
Ends
