A MAN with a history of violence ruined a period going straight when he carried out a street attack.

Durham Crown Court heard that Darren Waugh, 23, had served custodial sentences for violence, including one for biting off someone's ear.

But, after his release from a lengthy sentence in July last year, he found work as a bricklayer and kept out of trouble for several months.

Peter Sabiston, prosecuting, said he fell back into his old ways when he summoned a man in the street in Ushaw Moor, and punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground, on January 15.

The victim fled, suffering an eye injury, aggravated by his poor vision in the other eye.

Waugh, of St Andrew's Square, Brandon, denied a charge of causing grievous bodily harm, but was convicted following a trial at the court last month.

He returned for sentence, yesterday. Chris Baker, mitigating, handed in an employer's reference as to his character.

Mr Baker said: "It was a single-blow incident, not a sustained attack, and whatever the rights and wrongs of it, it seems there has been some sort of reconciliation between the victim and the defendant.

"Despite his past record, when he fell in with a bad crowd and drank heavily, there have been glimmers of hope for him.

"He's made efforts since his last sentence, qualifying as a bricklayer and making strenuous efforts to get a job."

Recorder Anton Lodge said that despite his attempts to improve his ways, he believes Waugh still poses a, significant risk to the public.

He jailed him for a total of three years and three months, less 201 days spent in custody prior to the case