Teenager avoids jail time for coward-punch attack that left 18-year-old with permanent brain injury

A teenager who coward-punched an 18-year-old man outside a nightclub on Hindley Street, leaving him with a traumatic brain injury, has avoided a custodial sentence.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced in Adelaide Youth Court today after previously pleading guilty to two counts of basic assault causing harm over the February 14 attack.

His victim, 18-year-old Beau Brownbill, has since been diagnosed with a permanent traumatic brain injury.

Magistrate Luke Davis handed the 17-year-old six months' detention but suspended the sentence upon the teenager entering a bond to be of good behaviour for two years.

Outside court Mr Brownbill's father said the sentence was "an absolute load of rubbish".

"My son sits with a jail sentence in his head for the rest of his life and that guy's now free to walk, as free as a bird, [it] is an absolute load of rubbish," Tony Brownbill said.

"He needs to reflect about what happens to you when you do something wrong.

Mr Brownbill's mother said the family was "deeply disappointed and devastated" by the outcome.

"It feels like a secondary blow to our family," Megan Brownbill said.

"We family believe that if you commit a violent life altering attack you should face "full accountability".

Ms Brownbill said that the family had asked the prosecution to appeal the sentence, and that they had been "actively liaising" with the Pat Cronin Foundation and the Sammy D Foundation "to advocate for systematic change, educate the next generation and put an end to senseless violence".

"We'll work along these incredible foundations to do everything we can do to make a difference," she said.

During the sentencing hearing, the prosecutor said Beau Brownbill had "almost fully recovered" from a brain injury he sustained in a sporting accident at the time of the attack.

Magistrate Davis said the offending was "pointless and avoidable".

"The actual blows occurred in a matter of seconds [and had] profound lifelong consequences," he told the court.

Magistrate Davis said he accepted that there was "an element of self-defence", but described 17-year-old's reaction as "completely unwarranted".

He also said the offender "ran off in a cowardly fashion".

Outside court Beau Brownbill said that he still had the "motivation to go out to the gym, see my friends [and] do what I want".

"Yeah, we haven't had the best outcome, but I want to keep on living my life how I want it to be," he said.