THREE youths angry over an England soccer team result attacked a taxi driver in Malvern, a court heard.

Phillip Juden, aged 19, punched Dwayne Lloyd after he was felled by another teenager. Mr Lloyd was taken to hospital unconscious and is now facing a medical inquiry into his fitness to drive, said prosecutor Ruona Iguyovwe.

Juden, of York Close, Malvern, pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm and was ordered to pay his victim £500 compensation.

He was also given 100 hours' community service and a two-year community rehabilitation order.

Judge David McEvoy QC said the sentence had to be comparable to those handed down by magistrates to his accomplices, aged 16 and 17. If not, he would have considered custodial sentences for the trio.

The judge said it was a "disgusting incident" but accepted that kicks delivered to Mr Lloyd did not come from the defendant.

Miss Iguyovwe told Worcester Crown Court that on August 15 England lost a match which left the trio unhappy.

They approached, then assaulted Mr Lloyd in York Close. He had rib cage injuries, two black eyes, head lacerations and a damaged ear lobe. On arrival at hospital, he suffered a fit and needed a brain scan. The vehicle licensing authority is currently liaising with his doctor.

Juden, who had no previous convictions, confessed to police that he had drunk nine pints of beer. He said they were in a bad mood because of the soccer result.

He claimed he waded in after Mr Lloyd head-butted one of his friends. One of the others had stamped on the victim's head as he lay helpless.

Nicolas Cartwright, defending, said Juden did not use his feet in the attack. His mother helped the victim and his brother pointed out at the scene that the defendant was one of the attackers.