A SOLDIER who administered a 'sickening' drunken attack on a fellow soldier was only charged with threatening behaviour because the victim would not cooperate with police.

David Young, who is based at the Merville Barracks on Circular Road South, Colchester, and serves in the Royal Signals, was caught on CCTV punching his victim in the head causing him to fall to the ground, and then kicking him in the head six times.

After the fifth kick, the victim appeared to lose conciousness and Young punched him in the head again before running away.

The footage was played during Young's hearing at Colchester Magistrates' Court yesterday.

But the Crown Prosecution Service were only able to bring about a charge of threatening behaviour with intent to provoke unlawful violence because the victim did not cooperate want to help police with their enquiries.

The incident occurred on Head Street just after midnight on December 12 last year.

Young, 25, was handed a 12 week prison sentence suspended for a year, after admitting the charge and Paul Baker, mitigating, said Young is likely to be dismissed from the army because of his punishment.

He said: "We have a situation where Mr Young is going to be losing his job should a suspended sentence be imposed, unlike any other profession you could likely name.

"My understanding is that he was out with others with his regiment and has no specific recollection of the incident itself.

"There is a perception in his mind there was a confrontation between himself and another soldier and believes he reacted when he thought he was going to be assaulted.

"He was shocked when the police arrived the next day and shocked when he saw the CCTV - it was out of character."

Chairman of the bench Lucy Lavender said: "This was a sickening attack, you repeatedly punched and kicked the victim when he was on the floor and unconscious and then fled the scene.

"We have listened carefully to what has been said regarding your employment but it does not alter the severity or significance of the attack and we are not prepared to alter your sentence."

Young, who is originally from Scotland. was also banned from entering Colchester town centre for a year, given 60 hours of unpaid work and forced to pay a £115 victim surcharge and £85 costs.