A MAN was punched and kicked all over his body in a “sustained and vicious” attack at a house they were both drinking in.

Peter Bellingham, from Blackhall Colliery, was given an eight-year sentence for the attack, which happened on September 12, 2016.

The 27-year-old had admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent at a previous hearing.

Durham Crown Court heard that Bellingham, of Ninth Street, had been drinking at a home in Trimdon Village on the day of the assault.

His victim, who was in his mid-50s, was also at the house, but the pair did not know each other.

Victoria Lamballe, prosecuting, told the court that Bellingham launched a seemingly unprovoked attack, which left the victim unconscious and covered in blood.

After coming around, the man went to a different house. But the court heard that Bellingham followed him and launched a further attack, punching and kicking him.

Ms Lamballe said: “He recalls being punched and kicked all over and his next memory is being woken up in hospital.”

Bellingham was arrested at the scene and initially denied the offence but then attended Peterlee Police Station voluntarily and admitted it.

The man, who spent a week in hospital recovering, suffered extreme bruising, fractured ribs and had to have his spleen removed, which means he will suffer from low immunity and will have to take antibiotics for the rest of his life.

A victim statement, read to court, said he still felt pain, suffered from panic attacks, had problems sleeping and has flashbacks following the incident.

Bellingham has eight previous convictions, including four for violent offences.

Ian Hudson, mitigating, described the attack as “sustained and vicious” but said Bellingham suffered from a severe personality disorder which had reduced his culpability.

He added: “He volunteered himself to the police station. I don’t know what percentage of people to that on very serious assaults.”

Judge Christopher Prince sentenced him to eight years in prison.

He said: “You said you had snapped and lost control. You agree you hadn’t been provoked in any meaningful way.

“You have heard the victim’s personal statement. This has had a very serious effect on him.

“This was a sustained and repeated assault on the same victim.”