A GOOD Samaritan was Tasered repeatedly in the head and stamped on in what magistrates labelled an animalistic attack.

On June 26 last year, the male victim was walking past Meadowcroft community centre in Stratton when he saw a group of youngsters harassing another man. He stepped into intervene, drawing the attention of a larger group of older men.

The victim heard the sound of a Taser being fired. The weapon’s barbs struck him in the back of the head, rendering him unconscious.

Nick Barr, prosecuting, said: “He falls immediately to the floor and lies there motionless.” The group piled in, punching and kicking the victim in the body and head.

One man, Matthew Brown, who pleaded guilty to the affray last month went over to a nearby van to grab an axe but was stopped by police before he was able to return to the fray.

Slow-motion mobile phone footage of the attack played to the court showed the 14-year-old in the youth court dock last week clearly stamp on the prone victim’s head.

Despite his tender age, the teen had a poor record that included convictions for threatening someone with a blade and breaching a criminal behaviour order

The boy pleaded guilty at Swindon Crown Court to an affray and the case was sent back to the youth court for sentencing.

Defending, Luke Jameson flagged concerns raised by the Swindon youth offending team that his young client was being groomed by older members of his family to get involved in criminal behaviour.

“Ultimately, I think it’s down to a young man who is heavily influenced by others who should have known better and certainly shouldn’t have involved him in it,” he said.

The boy’s mum said his behaviour was getting better and he helped round the house. Asked by magistrates what he liked, he answered : “Making decisions.”

He was sentenced to a nine month youth rehabilitation order, 12 hours of rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to pay £150 compensation.

Chairman of the bench David Barrand said: “There is no escaping the fact this was an almost animalistic attack by a group and you were part of that group.”

In October a 17-year-old boy was sentenced at Swindon Youth Court to a 12-month youth rehabilitation order for his part in the affray. He was ordered to pay £100 compensation and a £21 victim surcharge.

Another man will face trial next year for his alleged part in the incident.