VIOLENCE broke out in a video shop after an assault victim sought refuge from his attackers, a court heard.

Having been stabbed in an earlier incident outside the Blockbuster shop, in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, the man was set upon by a woman from the group while he was inside.

Durham Crown Court was told Emma Moderate burst into the rear staff room and bit the man in the head.

Amanda Rippon, prosecuting, said police were called and Moderate knocked two officers into a video display before she was restrained.

The court heard that Moderate had attended a wake earlier in the day and had drunk two bottles of sherry, a bottle of vodka and taken heroin.

Miss Rippon said, as a result of incident, the victim was fearful of going out and would be left with a permanent bald patch.

He also endured the stress of awaiting the all-clear for tests for HIV and hepatitis B, because Moderate was a known drug user.

Chris Morrison, mitigating, said the earlier incident had nothing to do with Moderate, whom he described as "drunk to the point of insensibility."

But he said she had shown some remorse over her actions at the scene and is now ashamed of what she did.

Mr Morrison added that since the incident she had regularly been tested while on remand in custody, and had always been drug free.

Moderate, 21, of Flass Terrace, Ushaw Moor, admitted unlawful wounding and two counts of resisting arrest. She was jailed for 15 months.