A PENSIONER who used his walking stick to assault another man over an argument about a horse has been jailed.

John Stephenson, of Kyo Laws Farm in Sabin Terrace, Stanley, admitted to hitting the man with a walking stick, leaving him with a head wound which required four staples.

The 73-year-old had been due to stand trial for inflicting grievous bodily harm in April but pleaded guilty before it started.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, told Durham Crown Court that Stephenson had been at home on September 14 when his victim came to see him about getting £425 back for a horse he had bought and then returned.

Following a heated discussion, Stephenson, who runs North East Carriage Company, grabbed his walking stick and hit the man twice on the arms as he tried to use them to protect his head.

Stephenson then struck him on the back of the head as he turned to leave.

Mr Towers said: “He staggered towards the door and can’t remember what happened next until he was helped up by the defendant’s wife.”

The victim, who has since moved house because he feared his family would be targeted with violence again, was left with a head wound and marks on his body from the cane.

Mitigating, Laurie Scott said: “This incident occurred at the end of a long week. The complainant by his own admission had come to the premises every single day for a week and Mr Stephenson has also been made aware that comments had been made on Facebook.

“Mr Stephenson was at the end of his tether but he accepts his actions were totally inappropriate and that’s something he regrets.”

She added Stephenson helped charities, including Help for Heroes and Daft as a Brush, by lending horses and carriages for fundraising.

He was sentenced to 16 months in prison and told to pay £1,500 in compensation and £1,500 of court costs.