A student who required brain surgery and 41 stitches to his head after being punched on Grafton Street in Dublin is urging a court not to jail his attacker.

Thomas Carter was struck unconscious during a row with a rickshaw driver after his two friends ran off before paying.

Declan McGowan delivered the blow because he was friendly with the rickshaw driver and mistakenly believed he had been hit by the student.

Last February, the 25-year-old with an address at the North Circular Road, was convicted by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of assault causing harm in the early hours of May 29th 2011. He was cleared of causing serious harm.

Culprit called ambulance & apologised

At his sentencing hearing today, Conor Devally, SC, defending, said Declan McGowan alerted an ambulance crew on Grafton Street after the assault and later phoned Beaumont Hospital to check on Thomas Carter's well-being.

He also apologised, admitted his actions were incredibly stupid rather than heroic, and said if he could take the scar and put it on his own head he would.

The 25-year-old has previous minor convictions for road traffic matters and runs his own cleaning business.

Thomas Carter took the unusual step of shaking his attacker's hand at the end of his assault trial.

In a victim impact statement submitted to the court today he expressed his belief that 'the culprit has a conscience' and should not go to prison.

Judge Patricia Ryan has put back sentencing until May 14th to allow time for the preparation of a probation and welfare report.