A MAN who has admitted attacking an innocent bystander after being ejected from a town centre pub, was told he should expect to receive a prison sentence.

The warning was given to David Thomas Laheney, who previously admitted unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm.

It arises from an attack in which he punched an 18-year-old man on the side of the face outside the Mitre pub, in Bishop Auckland, fracturing his jaw, on May 26 last year.

The court was told that the defendant was thrown out of the Newgate Street premises a short time earlier.

Victoria Lamballe, prosecuting, said there were no recent medical reports as to the victim’s progress recovering from his injuries.

“The last update was in late May which states he hoped there would be no lasting effect from his injuries,” she added.

Judge Christopher Prince agreed that he would need an updated medical report prior to the sentencing hearing.

He also asked for a background assessment on Laheney by the Probation Service, before he is sentenced, as well as chronology of the case progress from the police.

Bailing the 37-year-old defendant, of Westmorland Way, Newton Aycliffe, to return for sentence on April 12, Judge Prince told him: “You should expect to go to prison when you come back.”