Teenage thugs who filmed themselves punching a man and kicking him in the head in a “nasty and vicious” street attack have been spared prison.

Tyler Hart and George McGee, both 19, set upon their victim in a sustained unprovoked assault in Dover at night.

The duo, who were 17 at the time of the onslaught, were handed community orders at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday for their actions.

McGee posed for photos outside the court after a judge rapped the pair for their brutal behaviour.

Hart wept in the dock as prosecutors described him using his mobile phone to record McGee repeatedly punching Storm Kennedy.

Played in court, the footage showed Mr Kennedy retreating, trying to defend himself, as McGee repeatedly rained blows.

Hart could be heard saying “say when George”, then, when Mr Kennedy fell backwards over Hart's moped, he joined in the attack.

CCTV showed both repeatedly kicking Mr Kennedy in the head and neck as he tried to protect himself, with his body appearing to go limp before a bystander broke up the fight.

The pair then fled the scene, outside the Premier store in Pencester Road, shortly after 9pm on February 15 last year.

Police were able to trace the two teens, who were known to their victim, some weeks later after identifying Hart’s number plate on the shop’s CCTV.

When Hart was arrested at his family home he still had the illicit footage stored on his phone, prosecutor Oliver Kirk explained.

The court heard bad blood had existed between Mr Kennedy and the defendants prior to the assault.

Describing the attack, Mr Kirk said: “The assault continues by Mr McGee while Mr Hart is filming.

“Mr Kennedy is backing away from Mr McGee, who continues approaching him, and Mr Kennedy backs away to the moped belonging to Mr Hart, knocks it over and falls to the floor.

"If everyone behaved like you behaved, this place would be a jungle and nobody would want to live here..."

“It is at this point Mr Hart joins in with the physical assault and both defendants set about Mr Kennedy, kicking him in the head while he is on the floor.”

As both of their families watched from the public gallery, McGee could be seen passing Hart a tissue to wipe away his tears before the judge delivered his remarks.

Judge Rupert Lowe branded their actions a “nasty and vicious attack”, but explained they would not be going to custody.

The judge pointed to their young age at the time of their offending, meaning they must be dealt with as juveniles.

He also highlighted it was their first offences, while the crimes were committed a year and a half ago.

He continued: “You may have heard of something called the rule of law.

"What that means is the law applies to everybody, no exceptions. It doesn’t matter how big and powerful you are or what you’ve done in the past.

“The law offers you protection whether you’re a nice person, or not; that is how a civilised society works, and if everyone behaved like you behaved, this place would be a jungle and nobody would want to live here.”

Representing himself and fighting back tears, Hart said: “It was the old me. I was in a bad place and it has woken me up massively to what I want to do with my life - sorry.”

Kerry Waitt, mitigating for McGee, handed the judge a letter from his employer with a positive reference.

Hart, of Sidney Street in Folkestone, and McGee, of Longfield Road in Dover, were handed a 12-month community order.

They must complete 25 days with the probation service, 150 hours of unpaid work, and pay £350 within six months.