THREE people are facing jail for an attack at a takeaway which left a man fighting for his life.

The 44-year-old victim was found with serious head and facial injuries at Wings Chinese on Oxbridge Lane, Stockton, on a Sunday afternoon in January.

At Teesside Crown Court yesterday, two of the three accused pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, and they will all be sentenced on September 3.

During an earlier hearing, Zheng Guan Lin, 43, of Hawthorn Road, Spennymoor, County Durham, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

Now, Jian Zhu, 33, of Leven Street, Middlesbrough, and Jian Zeng Lin, 41, of Bourne Morton Drive, Stockton, have confessed to the parts they played in the January 21 assault.

Judge Stephen Ashurst said Zheng Guan Lin had been the principal attacker "who used the hammer to inflict the very serious injuries".

All three men originally faced a charge of attempted murder, upon which prosecutors have now offered no evidence.

Judge Ashurst told the other two: "The prosecution have accepted that when you participated in this assault, you did not intend to cause really serious harm.

"The fact that you have pleaded guilty is something that will count in your favour when you are sentenced.

"I know your counsel appreciate this is a serious matter, and although plainly there will be a distinction to be drawn between your involvement and that of your co-accused, both of you have admitted a serious offence of violence for which a custodial sentence will be the starting point."

Prosecutor Shaun Dodds told the court: "Both of these defendants indicate there are parts of this incident they can't remember."