A man twice beat up a 14-year-old boy in the street because he found him "annoying," a court heard.

Justin Rolfe was spared jail after he admitted breaking the youngster's glasses and covering his face in cuts and bruises in the two assaults in Colchester.

Jonathan Longman, prosecuting at Colchester Magistrates' Court, said Rolfe, 19, had first assaulted the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, when he encountered him in Harwich Road on April 15.

"The victim was thrown to the floor, kicked twice and punched numerous times to the head and face, leaving him with cuts and bruises to his face and arms," he said.

The second attack was on May 22 in the road where Rolfe lives, at Viscount Drive, High Woods.

This time, Mr Longman said the boy was riding his bike when Rolfe punched him three times in the face, causing him to fall to the ground.

The youngster suffered cuts and scratches to his face, grazes to his arms, and one of his eyes was swollen.

unemployed The court heard Rolfe confessed to the attack when interviewed by police, but denied kicking the boy.

"He stated he doesn't like the victim, finds him annoying, and this is his justification for the assault," Mr Longman said.

Elizabeth Bradshaw, mitigating, said Rolfe, who is unemployed, had never been in trouble before.

"He had taken to hanging around with groups of younger people because he had nothing to do," she said.

Chairman of the bench Barry Hawes told Rolfe: "These are two bullying attacks on a younger victim, somebody who has not retaliated.

"It is something that cannot be tolerated in our community."

Rolfe was given a three-month jail term, suspended for one year.

He was also made the subject of a curfew from 7pm to 6am for three months, banned from contacting the victim and ordered to spend 25 days on a training course to help him find a job.

Compensation of £75 was awarded and Rolfe was told to pay £25 costs.