A FORDINGBRIDGE youth who carried out repeated drunken attacks and breached a community punishment order has been sent to a young offenders' institution for 16 weeks.

Ricky McMasters, 19, of Station Road, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and admitted the breaches.

District Judge Lorraine Morgan sitting at New Forest Magistrates' Court heard McMasters had climbed through a bedsit window in the town on the evening of Friday, November 27.

As soon as he realised Philip Batty and a friend were at home he escaped.

Mr Batty and his friend went outside and found McMasters who appeared to be "high on something", said prosecutor Karen Robinson.

McMasters fled but was later seen in the street with his father.

McMasters then pushed Mr Batty's friend and then headbutted and punched Mr Batty.

They retreated indoors and the friend called the police on a mobile telephone.

But McMasters burst through the door of the bedsit and started throwing punches again.

Defence solicitor Alan Stafford said McMasters now had a settled job.

Judge Morgan sentenced McMasters to eight weeks for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, four weeks consecutive for assault and battery and four weeks consecutive for the breaches.

First published: September 1, 2005