A MAN who carried out a glass attack outside a bar is experiencing his first taste of life in custody.

Christopher Young was remanded in custody by Judge Christopher Prince, at Durham Crown Court, due to the “explosive” nature of his actions, at Lacey’s, in Bishop Auckland, on December 27.

The defendant, now 28, of Woodhouses, St Helen Auckland, denied attempting to wound one man and wounding another man with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm, at a plea hearing, on June 19.

But, at that hearing, he was prepared to admit a slightly lesser charge of unlawfully wounding the glassing victim, which the prosecution did not accept.

A trial of up to two days was to have taken place to resolve the issue, but on Young’s return to court for the hearing, a new indictment was brought by the Crown.

Young, this time, continued to deny attempting to cause the first victim grievous bodily harm, but the prosecution accepted his guilty plea to assaulting him, causing actual bodily harm.

That charge arose from the initial attack, with a bottle, inside Lacey’s.

Young, then admitted wounding with intent, relating to the glassing of a man to his face, outside the premises, in Forebondgate.

With both victims in court, Crown counsel Ian West said: “That is an acceptable form of pleas for the prosecution.”

Andrew Finlay, for Young, told the court: “He’s a man of previous good character and, while I don’t think the court will benefit from pre-sentence report in this case, I would ask for sentence to be adjourned for various references to be obtained, including from his employer and others, to present to the court.”

Mr Finlay said Young works at a recycling plant and an adjournment would enable him to gather those documents.

“What he’s pleaded guilty to will mean he’s facing a custodial sentence, and a significant one, at that.

“He’s been on bail, and kept out trouble since the incident, as well as before.”

Asking Judge Prince to extend his client’s bail until the sentencing hearing, Mr Finlay added: “He’s mindful of the seriousness of the situation and is aware he’ll be going to custody.”

Refusing Mr Finlay’s request, the judge said there is a starting point of six years in the agreed sentencing guidelines, just on the charge of wounding with intent.

He told Mr Finlay: “You are effectively asking me to release someone who is capable of very explosive behaviour.

“I’m not willing to grant bail. He is, in any event, going to receive a significant custodial sentence.”

The judge asked for up-dated victim statements to be prepared for the sentencing hearing, on December 7.