A Lithuanian carpenter who punched a helpless man nine times in a drunken street assault walked free because he was acting "out of character".

Tomas Stasiulevicius, 34, attacked Calin Mihailescu as he walked home through Cann Hall Road, Leytonstone, on July 20 last year.

Stasiulevicius and his brother said he "looked like a pussy" before kicking his mobile phone out of his hand and beating him to the floor.

CCTV footage at the scene did not show how the incident started but did show Mr Mihailescu running from the brothers around a car where Tomas Stasiulevicius corners him.

As Mr Mihailescu is being restrained by Visvaldas Stasiulevicius his brother can be seen kneeing him in the head.

He then delivers nine uppercuts to the man before kicking him in the stomach.

Mr Mihailescu can then be falling to the floor where Tomas Stasiulevicius throws three final punches – one of which caused his head to strike the pavement.

Stasiulevicius appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday (December 18) where he escaped with a suspended sentence.

Mr Mihailescu suffered a 3cm scalp laceration which required four stitches, soft tissue damage in his chest and a bruised jaw.

In a police interview Stasiulevicius claimed that he and his brother had been drinking and decided to go out to get some food.

He added that after stopping to eat on their way back they were confronted by the victim who started calling them "w***ers", "c**ts" and accused them of being homosexual.

The court heard that Stasiulevicius was "deeply ashamed" and "extremely remorseful for his actions".

"His family will be absolutely devastated if he is sent to prison," said Isobel McCarroll on his behalf.

His brother was sentenced for a lesser offence of common assault at an earlier hearing based on the CCTV footage only showing him holding onto Mr Mihailescu.

"I am entirely satisfied that on July 20 last year you were extremely drunk," Judge John Lafferty told him.

"I am equally satisfied that you behaved out of character.

"I will not make any finding as to whether the complainant provoked you and your brother, but even if he did, your reaction was wholly unacceptable.

"Had the CCTV shown you striking him with shod foot while on the ground you would have been going to prison today."

Stasiulevicius, of Stewart Road, Stratford, was handed a 12-month prison sentence, to be suspended for 18 months, with a tagged curfew between 10pm and 5am.

He was also ordered to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work, made to pay £400 towards the prosecution costs, £800 in compensation and a £100 surcharge.