Magistrate Susan McGowan sentenced Tyler James Lindsley to a minimum six months’ jail over the February 9 attack, which left the male victim with bruising and grazes to his face and arm and swelling to the top of his head.

The court heard Lindsley punched the man in the back of the head, without warning, over an alleged unpaid debt, despite being told by a female friend with him at the time ‘‘you’ve got the wrong guy’’.

A friend of Lindsley also joined in the attack.

In handing down the sentence on Friday, Magistrate McGowan said the community was fed up with drunken violence.

‘‘The community as a whole is tired of this sort of behaviour from young men getting high on alcohol,’’ she said, telling Lindsley he faced more jail time in the future if his out-of-control drinking didn’t stop.

‘‘The pre-sentence report is not optimistic [about your future] unless you address your addiction and circumstances.

‘‘It’s up to you to do something about it.’’

The court heard the 19-year-old had little memory of the incident, however the victim told police he and Lindsley had initially run into each other on Burelli Street outside the Wollongong cinema and had a short, amicable conversation before parting ways.

A moment later Lindsley’s friend called the victim back to their group and said he owed Lindsley money.

The victim denied that, saying he had no money on him anyway, prompting Lindsley to punch the man in the back of the head, before his mate joined in the melee.

The victim said he recalled one member of the group having a baseball bat but said he wasn’t sure whether it was used to hit him.

Friends of the attackers eventually stopped the assault and the group fled as police arrived.

Officers arrested Lindsley in MacCabe Park a short time later.  His co-accused was arrested later that evening.

Lindsley was charged with affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm and remanded in custody.

With time already served, Lindsley will be released on parole on August 8.