Teen avoids jail after biting fan and headbutting another at 50 cent gig

A Sunderland teenager who caused rapper 50 Cent to appeal for calm at a concert after he headbutted one fan and bit another has avoided jail.

Alexander McHugh, 19, of Peasemore Road, Pennywell, lashed out in two separate incidents at the Newcastle gig in November 2015.

The first victim, a student, stepped in when he saw McHugh pushing a woman in the audience.

McHugh felt threatened when he was challenged, the court heard, and he headbutted the man, leaving him needing eight stitches and causing his forehead to be scarred.

Shortly afterwards, McHugh attacked a 16-year-old after there was more shoving, knocking him over and biting his cheek as he sat astride him.

A previous hearing at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court heard how 50 Cent appealed for calm from the stage having seen a disturbance in the crowd.

Recorder Tahir Khan QC at Newcastle Crown Court jailed McHugh for 20 months but suspended the sentence for two years.

McHugh, who has an apprenticeship, must carry out unpaid community work, take an anger management course and pay #300 compensation to each victim.

He avoided jail after admitting wounding and causing actual bodily harm, and the court hearing how he had been out of trouble for more than a year.

The judge said: You are demonstrating a desire to live a law-abiding life.''