A car owner was badly beaten in his home after he refused to hand over his keys to two youths.

Thomas Brown, 29, needed 52 stitches to his head, suffered a broken nose, a cracked cheekbone, bruising and swelling all over his head, and bruising to his back, shoulders and arms, after he was attacked by Carl Walker on March 24.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how the 18-year-old had called at Mr Brown's home, in Forth Avenue, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, several days earlier and asked to borrow his car.

Mr Brown refused but had given Walker and three others a lift.

But the court heard how Walker returned with another man. When Mr Brown's friend, Scott Parks, answered the late-night knock at the door, he was met by a punch in the face.

Mr Brown refused to hand over his keys while he attempted to get the men out of his home, but suffered a savage beating as a result, the court heard.

Mr Brown added: "Carl picked up the coffee table and smashed it over my back. It broke into pieces across my shoulders.

"Carl had me in a headlock, offering my face to the other man to kick or punch but the other man didn't do anything like that."

Mr Brown told the court how he was hit with the chair leg about nine or ten times, and had a glass thrown at his head.

Neighbour Philip Martin managed to remove Walker from the premises and the emergency services were called.

Mr Brown was initially taken to Dryburn Hospital but was transferred to Sunderland Royal for detailed examination.

The memory of the attack forced him to leave his home.

Part way through the trial which started yesterday, Walker, of Wynyard, Chester-le-Street, pleaded guilty to robbery, two charges of unlawful wounding and one of assaulting another male who was at the house.

He will be sentenced on January 21.