An unexpected attack at the University of Wollongong has been followed with the sentencing of a UOW international student to six months in jail.

The student, Haopo Yang, 22, who is from China was caught on security cameras “mercilessly” attacking an acquaintance.

The confronting violence was in a common area on campus, the morning of February the 23rd. This kind of viciousness is a scene which is rarely seen in the University of Wollongong’s safe environment.

The repetition of brutal hits to the victim’s head cost him a trip to the hospital and ongoing vision problems, according to the Illawarra Mercury.

The video shows evidence of the victim seated next to a woman who unsuccessfully attempts to break up the fight.

The Illawarra Mercury reported that Police documents offered on Thursday to Wollongong Local Court, show Yang and the victim shared a female friend. Yang and the victim were both “aiming to have some form of relationship with her which has apparently led to tensions between the pair.”

It is unclear from the court documents if the woman in the video is the subject of the men’s rivalry. Yang pleaded guilty to charges of affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Magistrate Michael Stoddart considered multiple references in Yang’s favour during Thursday’s court appearance.

“It’s hard to believe that those people who speak about Mr Yang in such terms as ‘polite’… ‘has a good temper’ … ‘not a fiery or grumpy person’”

Yang was rightfully sentenced to six months imprisonment.

The decision was immediately appealed by Yang and he has been released on bail ahead of his next court appearance, September 2.