A TEENAGER punched a schoolboy in the head so many times he knocked him unconscious in a brutal attack.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted to assaulting the 15-year-old in the Rivergate Shopping Centre in Irvine on January 19 this year, chasing him and repeatedly punching him on the head, causing him to lose consciousness.

He appeared in the dock at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week and pled guilty to the vicious assault, which was videoed on a mobile phone.

Fiscal Stewart McMillan told the court the victim had been in Bridgegate, near the entrance to the shopping mall with eight friends when he was set upon.

He said: “At around 8.45pm he got into an argument with another member of the group. Words were exchanged but it was left at that.

“However the accused became irate at what had taken place and started, what has been described as squaring up to the victim.

“The victim backed away from him but five minutes later someone from the group contacted the police and requested them to attend because they knew something was going to happen. The group splintered as people tried not to be involved.”

The teenager, who is from Stevenston, then pounced on the boy.

Mr McMillan told the court: “He was seen punching him several times at the entrance to the shopping centre.

“The victim ran off in to the shopping centre and was pursued by the accused.

“He was punched in the back of the head then further punches were thrown and causing him to fall to the ground.

“He positioned himself over the victim and repeatedly punched him on the head. The victim made attempts to cover his head but was unsuccessful and was eventually knocked unconscious for around 10 minutes. Police attended and quickly learned that the incident was videoed on a mobile phone.”

The teenager fled the scene but was found at his home address on January 25.

The case was adjourned for reports until June when he will be sentenced.