A TEENAGER who tried to kill himself while awaiting sentence has been locked up for a year for stamping on a man's head outside a pub.

Alex Constantine, 18, of Gloucester Road, Poole, and two friends launched an unprovoked attack on a group of drinkers outside the Albion in Verwood.

After swinging Mark Shipley round by the throat on January 12 this year, Constantine punched him and stamped on his head.

Prosecutor Tim Dracass told the Old Bailey Constantine had approached his victim and asked: "Do you know who I am?"

After Mr Shipley failed to recognise Constantine he was attacked. When the victim's friends rushed to help, Constantine screamed: "Do you want some as well?"

Constantine was convicted of assault, occasioning actual bodily harm by a jury at Bournemouth Crown Court on August 13.

While awaiting sentence he had slit his wrists, the court heard.

Sentencing Constantine to a year's detention in a Young Offenders' Institution, Judge Richard Hawkins QC said: "This was an unprovoked attack. You struck the victim twice on the head and, when he was on the ground, you then stamped on his head."

Constantine had denied the charge, claiming he was acting in self-defence during the brawl.