Published Thursday, 30 April 2009
Luke Tittensor, 19, who played tearaway Daz Eden in the soap, left his victim with a displaced fracture on his lower jaw after the attack in Rochdale, Lancs.
The actor admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm to his victim, who required corrective surgery following the incident in February last year.
Bolton Crown Court heard how the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was waiting for a taxi with a group of friends when a drinks carton was thrown at him from the car Tittensor was travelling in.
The car initially sped away, then turned around and pulled up near to the victim and his friends, the court heard.
Tittensor emerged from the vehicle and after a brief verbal altercation, the 16-year-old's taxi arrived.
Prosecuting, Mark Ford said: "As he turned away from the defendant in order to get into the taxi, he was struck to the head without warning or provocation.
"The force of that blow caused him to fall to the ground and the defendant then stamped on the face of his victim as he lay prone."
Tittensor had been due to face trial for the attack, but after pleading guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm last month he was given a nine month sentence, suspended for two years.
The actor, of Ryecroft Avenue, Heywood, near Rochdale, was also ordered to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work, pay £1,100 in costs and give £1,000 compensation to the victim.
Sentencing, Judge Lindsey Kushner QC said: "You are 19 years of age but ostensibly more mature than most 19 year olds because you have been living in the public eye since you were a child.
"On the face of it you look like a responsible young man.
"This poor boy has suffered a full assault, serious injury, surgery, and he is generous enough to say all he wants you to do is accept your responsibility, which in fact you have", she continued.
"But my responsibility is different. I have to demonstrate to the public that whether you are famous or whether you are unknown, the court has to take a dim view of this behaviour."
Tittensor, dressed in a black suit and black tie, nodded in response.
Earlier this month, ITV confirmed that the actor's contract with Emmerdale had been terminated following his guilty plea.