A TEENAGER who blinded a man in one eye with a metal pole walked free from court today (Friday June 7), after spending 144 days in custody.

Angus William Hollingsworth, 17, struck out with roof rack pole after the 40-year-old victim and his partner went to his doorstep armed with a hammer and screwdriver, late on January 12.

Durham Crown Court heard it followed an earlier heated telephone exchange between the pair, previously friends, over use of the defendant's phone.

The incident took place in Edward Street, New Kyo, near Stanley, at an address where Hollingsworth was staying.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, said the victim suffered a 10cm-long wound to the back of the head, a fractured right cheek bone, but the most serious injury was a burst eye-ball, leaving him permanently without sight in the right eye.

Hollingsworth, of Neal Street, Annfield Plain, near Stanley, admitted unlawful wounding on the basis it was, "excessive self-defence".

Robert Adams, mitigating, said: "Although he was angry at the time, being confronted like this, he is now extremely apologetic for the injury he caused.

"It was never his intention to cause such serious damage."

Judge Christopher Prince told Hollingsworth: "You caused a grave, lasting injury to someone who was previously your friend.

"You have previous convictions for common assault but nothing like as serious as this.

"It has to be considered they came armed to the property you were at.

"In response, you picked up and struck out with a metal pole.

"Although you used a weapon, it was in self-defence, with a lack of pre-meditation and in response to a great deal of provocation.

"The steps you took in your defence were, to a degree, proportionate to the threat you were under.

"There's a fine line between lawful and excessive self-defence."

Judge Prince said, as Hollingsworth has spent 144 days in custody since the incident, he could impose an 18-month youth rehabilitation order with intensive supervision and surveillance.