TWO men are to be sentenced next month after admitting their parts in an attack on a young pool player at a social club.

A confrontation, which preceded the violence, took place in the pool room at Horden Labour Club, earlier this year.

Colin Bennett, 22, and 23-year-old Michael Charters were in a group which exchanged words with some of those playing pool.

It was decided to go outside the Sunderland Road premises, in Horden, to resolve the issue, but the parties then went back into the club, where the attack took place.

Bennett was said to have approached a 17-year-old youth and struck him in the head with a bottle. He and Charters were accused of kicking him as he fell to the floor.

The victim momentarily lost consciousness and was taken to the University Hospital of Hartlepool, suffering a 3cm cut.

Bennett denied wounding the victim with intent, when the charge was put to him at Durham Crown Court, but he admitted a lesser offence of unlawful and malicious wounding, in the incident, on March 16.

Charters admitted a charge of common assault on the 17-year-old.

He and Bennett, both from Horden, denied a charge of affray.

David Wilkinson, prosecuting, said the Crown considered their pleas as "acceptable" and would not pursue the other allegations.

Nick Cartmell, for Bennett, of Conyers Crescent, said he had a previous similar wounding offence on his record, which meant he must be assessed for perceived "dangerousness".

Both Mr Cartmell and Peter Schofield, for Charters, of McGuinness Avenue, who had no previous convictions, asked for background reports to be drawn up on their clients before they are sentenced.

Agreeing to the request, Judge Richard Lowden said: "There's no hints or promises as to what the eventual sentence will be."

Both were bailed to return to the court for sentence on Tuesday, August 28.