A MAN who was heading to a taxi rank after a night out was knocked unconscious and robbed.

His attacker, Callum Barlow, was caught after he was identified on CCTV and at Bolton Crown Court the 19-year-old was sentenced to three years in a young offenders’ institution.

Justin Hayhoe, prosecuting, told how victim Carl Entwistle had enjoyed a night out in Leigh on May 19 and was “tipsy” after drinking up to 10 pints of lager.

At 3am he left his friends in a nightclub, withdrew £20 from the NatWest bank and headed towards a taxi rank.

“At some point along that route he was attacked by somebody and was struck from behind, giving him no opportunity to defend himself,” said Mr Hayhoe.

“He has no recall of the attack and can only recall that he was assisted by an unknown male.

“The Crown infer that, as a result of that assault, he had been knocked unconscious.”

A video later found showed Mr Entwistle on the ground being punched by Barlow.

When he was in an ambulance being taken to hospital, 53-year-old Mr Entwistle realised his bank card and tobacco were missing, although his cash was still in his pocket.

He suffered a badly bruised and reddened left eye and, in a victim statement, told the court how he now has trouble sleeping, rarely goes to the pub after work and is uneasy having face-to-face contact with members of the public.

“He says he used to be a bubbly, loud and outgoing person but he is now quiet, reserved and anxious,” said Mr Hayhoe.

After the attack, Barlow went to a petrol station and tried, unsuccessfully, to use the stolen bank card to buy alcohol.

The court heard that the teenager, of Yarnside Close, Atherton, has a lengthy criminal record for previous offences including affray and assaults. On one occasion he poured bleach over his mother’s head and pointed a knife at her.

Richard English, defending, said that the attack on Mr Entwistle was unplanned and Barlow is remorseful.

He stressed that Barlow has been diagnosed with ADHD and had a troubled childhood, including time spent in care.

Recorder Blakey sentenced the teenager to three years behind bars.

He told him: “Mr Entwistle may well have been tipsy but he was entitled to be tipsy. What he is not entitled to be is attacked for no good reason other than you, or anybody else, trying to take his possessions.

“He was struck from behind – a cowardly blow.

“You are only 19 and you have an appalling record for a lad your age.

“The better option is to stop committing offences and get your life sorted out.”