The 16-year-old, who can’t be identified, pleaded guilty to the random May 12 assault of the 23-year-old vulnerable victim in South Tamworth.

The teenager admitted to punching the victim in the face, throwing a football at his face, causing a bleeding nose, pushing him to the ground and kicking him in the back.

The victim, who was walking to his mother’s house through a South Tamworth park at the time, managed to escape his attacker and run home.

However, he was left bloodied and bruised and police were called in to investigate.

Senior Tamworth police even labelled the attack “appalling” and “disgusting” because the “victim was minding his own business”.

Officers at the time said the incident was completely unprovoked because the victim was listening to his iPod when he was confronted by the teenager, who then turned on him.

The incident sparked a social media storm as hundreds of locals condemned the attack and rallied around the victim.

A number of witnesses came forward and, after a short investigation, the teenager was arrested and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intimidation.

When the 16-year-old first fronted court he pleaded not guilty to both offences before admitting guilt at a later appearance. In sentencing this week in Tamworth Children’s Court, Magistrate Chris O’Brien put the teenager on probation for 18 months, ordering him to stay out of trouble.