An economics student at the University of Kent in Canterbury left his exam finals to tell a judge how he was beaten up.

Shebbir Lakha, who is in his third year, took a break in his his studies to relive the moment he was confronted by four teenagers a year ago.

He revealed how he was talking to his girlfriend on his Blackberry mobile phone while heading to the campus library in April 2012.

In Ulcombe Gardens, he was confronted by two women and two men - including 19-year-old Billy Bellis - who asked him for a cigarette.

Mr Lakha told a judge at Canterbury Crown Court: "I told them I didn't have any fags. They began asking me why I didn't have one. They then asked for my mobile phone."

He said one of the girls then deliberately bumped into him – and he was then accused of deliberately barging her.

It was then that Bellis, of Downs Road, Canterbury, confronted the student saying: "Why are you deliberately starting on the lady?"

Mr Larkha said: "He (Bellis) then punched me in the face. It knocked me off my feet and I fell into a wall and then onto the floor.

"He and the two women began punching and kicking me while I was on the ground. I was hit on the back and legs."

After the initial attack happened, Bellis walked away but then ran back towards his stricken victim, kicked him and twice stamped on him.

Mr Larkha – who had clutched his face to protect himself, left his mobile phone on a wall where it was then stolen.

The second man – who had been circling the group on a bike – then left, saying: "I didn't hit you!"

Mr Larkha later recalled sitting on the ground "with my head pounding and confused".

He then called the police and was taken to hospital in Ashford where he was treated for bruises to his head and back.

Bellis admitted punching his victim, but claimed he did it because he feared Mr Larkha was going to strike one of the girls – but the judge rejected his account after a hearing.

He will be sentenced next month for assaulting Mr Larkha and an attempted robbery the same evening.

Hearings of four other teenagers, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are being held at Canterbury's youth court.

They have admitted a variety of charges of robbery and handling stolen items, including Mr Larkha's mobile phone.