A MAN has pleaded guilty to affray following a disturbance at a nightclub which saw a devoted granddad die

Stewart Anderson, 54, a freelance tiler of Hetton-le-Hole, collapsed at the Loveshack nightclub in Durham City’s Walkergate area in the early hours of Sunday, July 24, last year.

Police were called to the club shortly after 1am after reports of a disturbance inside the premises involving a number of people.

The father-of-two, who also had a young granddaughter, was given first aid by police and paramedics. He was taken by ambulance to the University Hospital of North Durham, but died later.

At a hearing at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Alan King, 56, of Houghton Road, Hetton-le-Hole, pleaded guilty to a charge of affray. His son Jordan, 24, pleaded not guilty to the same charge.

District judge Martin Walker ordered Alan King to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £80 and a victim surcharge of £85.

Jordan King, of Earls Green, in East Rainton, will face trial over the allegation on Monday, July 10. He was granted him unconditional bail until the hearing.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has launched an examination into the circumstances surrounding Mr Anderson's death.

The police watchdog had received a mandatory referral from Durham Constabulary as its officers attended the incident.