A DUDLEY teen has been jailed for four years after fracturing a schoolboy's skull in a brutal attack with a rounders bat because he drew a cartoon he felt insulted his religion.

Recorder Ceiran Rankin at Wolverhampton Crown Court told the 16-year-old Muslim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, it was clear he regarded himself as "some kind of local hero" but he said he struck out in revenge and there was nothing honourable about his actions.

He told him: "You have brought shame on yourself and your family. This was nothing more than a cowardly attack."

The incident left the victim, also 16, with swelling on the brain and he was detained in hospital for six days after treatment to his injury.

The Recorder described the incident in Stoney Lane, Netherton, as a "ferocious attack" and the court was told the victim suffered flashbacks afterwards and had struggled with his GCSE examinations - failing to reach the grades he expected.

Andrew Wallace, prosecuting, said the attacker also robbed an 18-year-old man in a secluded spot, near Kinver Community Centre, of two mobile telephones while armed with a flick knife.

The frightened victim was surrounded by a gang of young men and he suffered a cut to his neck that needed stitching at hospital after being struck by the knife-wielding defendant.

The court was also told that while on bail the defendant had robbed a 14-year-old boy in Old Level Lane, Netherton, after threatening him with a pair of 20" long bolt cutters.

He had held the cutters against the terrified boy's head as he demanded his phone during the incident.

The defendant, from the Kates Hill area of Dudley, admitted two charges of robbery and two of possessing an offensive weapon.

He denied causing grievous bodily harm but was convicted after a trial.

Will Rose, defending, said the defendant's problems arose from alcohol and all the offences had been committed in drink.

Mr Rose said the teenager had been drinking for two years and that had resulted in a "lack of thinking" and he added: "Now he says he has learned his lesson and he does not want to touch a drop of alcohol again. Clearly he is in need of some help."