AN argument about a can of lager left a man lying unconscious with a fractured skull Teesside Crown Court heard.

Yesterday, Robert Fishburn, 24, formerly of Waterloo Road, Middlesbrough, was jailed for five years for causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Stephen Ashurst, prosecuting, told the court how in December 2001 Fishburn had been at his home when his close friend Cathal McManus returned to the house with some cans of lager.

He said Fishburn had taken one of the cans and when Mr McManus complained, he was pinned against the wall by Fishburn but was released when he bit his nose.

At this point, Mr Ashurst said, Fishburn went into the kitchen. He returned with a claw hammer and hit Mr McManus, fracturing his skull.

While his friend lay unconscious, Fishburn had struck more blows at him while pacing around the room "bemoaning his injured nose," Mr Ashurst said.

The court was told how Fishburn then dragged the unconscious Mr McManus outside, despite the advice of other people present.

Police and medical help arrived and Fishburn was arrested. Mr McManus was taken to Middlesbrough General Hospital where he was found to have a depressed skull fracture.

The court heard that Mr McManus recovered from the injury.

But Fishburn, on the day his trial was originally scheduled to begin, absconded until surrendering to police earlier this year.

Shaun Dryden, defending, told the court that on the day of the incident Fishburn had had too much to drink and had acted the way he did after receiving the "fairly serious injury to his nose".

The court was told Fishburn absconded because he was feeling stressed by the whole incident and was remorseful about what he had done. He told police it had been in a fight which had got out of control.

Judge David Bryant sentencing Fishburn to five years in prison told him it was a very serious offence committed with a weapon and resulting in Mr McManus receiving a fractured skull.