A LONG-TERM foster carer attacked a man in a pub because of a long-running feud between them.

David Woods, 46, of Park Avenue, in Coxhoe, attacked a fellow drinker in a Spennymoor pub causing a serious injury to the victim’s hand.

Prosecutor Anne Mitchell, told magistrates in Newton Aycliffe, that Woods walked past his victim at 8.40pm on April 20 saying that he was going slice him up.

Ten minutes later she said Woods seemed to be agitated.

He approached his victim who was drinking John Smiths from a pint glass and punched him twice in the face.

The assaulted man fell to the floor and Woods continued to throw punches at his victim’s head. The pub’s bouncers pulled Woods off the attacked man.

The magistrates heard that the victim still needed on-going treatment to his wounded hand.

Ms Mitchell said that Woods claimed he had pushed past his victim but denied hitting him.

Robin Ford, mitigating, said that there was ill feeling between the two men but that Woods had not said he would slice up his victim.

He said that Woods was stressed because his wife of 18-years had left after in 2013. Mr Ford added that the couple had helped to raise lots of foster children over the years.

Mr Ford added that the victim had been the wrong person in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Woods pleaded guilty to a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent and he was given unconditional bail.

Magistrates asked for a pre-sentence report and the case has been sent to Durham Crown Court for sentencing on a date to be set.