A YOUNG drug dealer struck a ‘customer’ in the head with a metal pole in a dispute over a £36 refund, a court heard.

Brennick Ord then rained a number of punches and kneed the falling victim several times, before his own sister ran to drag him away to end the attack, which took place on Station Road, Ushaw Moor, near Durham, on December 16, at 6.25pm.

Durham Crown Court heard the 44-year-old victim, described as “vulnerable”, is epileptic, but has remained fit-free for 18 months and feared the attack would spark a relapse.

He was treated in hospital, receiving suture-type stitches for a 1.5cm cut to his forehead, while he was also badly bruised.

Kevin Ross, prosecuting, said the background was £36 the victim believed he was owed by Ord, who was his cannabis supplier at a time he was said to be at a low ebb trying to come to terms with a family bereavement.

The arrangement for payment saw Ord holding the man’s Post Office debit card and withdrawing the money for the cannabis he supplied, giving the remainder to his ‘customer’.

But on the day of the attack, the victim rang Ord seeking £36 back from him, from a £136 withdrawal for a £100 drug payment.

Mr Ross said this appeared to anger Ord, who later spotted the man walking along Front Street, pulled up in his car and ran out to commit the attack with the metal pole.

The court heard that after a complaint was made to police Ord turned up at the victim’s family home on Christmas Day bringing gifts and an apology.

Mr Ross said the Crown considered bringing further proceedings for perverting the course of justice, but opted against it, bearing in mind the looming proceedings over the attack.

Twenty-year-old Ord, of College View, Bearpark, near Durham, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon.

Following his admissions, Judge Christopher Prince remanded Ord in custody at a recent hearing, his first spell behind bars.

Tony Davis, mitigating, said the time in custody has given Ord, “a short sharp shock”, but helped him go drug-free for the first time in five years.

Mr Davis added that the defendant has sought help to overcome his drug use and anger issues.

Imposing a 12-month sentence in a young offenders’ institution, Judge Prince told Ord: “This was a repeated, prolonged attack on a vulnerable victim, committed because you took umbrage at him asking you for his own money back.”