A MAN who previously denied a wounding allegation has admitted a slightly lesser alternative just a fortnight before his scheduled trial.

Lee Ebdon was accused of wounding with intent, arising from an alleged attack on another man with a metal bar, dating from September 20, 2017.

The injured man was said to have been visiting to help move furniture on behalf of the defendant’s sister.

But, Ebdon is said to have woken from a sleep on the sofa, become aggressive and told the other man to leave.

He is said to have punched him and then twice thrust the metal bar into his head, causing a laceration, plus defence injuries to the victim’s hands.

Ebdon, 28, of Craddock Street, denied wounding with intent at a plea hearing last year and a trial date was agreed, for up to four days, starting on February 18, at Durham Crown Court.

But the case came back into the list a fortnight earlier, when defence counsel Andrew Finlay asked for the charges to be put again.

Ebdon maintained his denial to wounding with intent, but admitted the alternative of unlawful wounding.

The prosecution accepted the plea and sentence was adjourned for four weeks to allow for preparation of background reports on him by the Probation Service.

Judge Jonathan Carroll bailed Ebdon to return for sentence on March 7.