A MAN released midway through a 52-month prison sentence was back behind bars after only a few days of liberty, a court heard.

Alan Lawrence, 29, was taken in as a “goodwill gesture” by a friend in Seaham as he was homeless following his release on licence at the mid-point of the sentence, imposed at Durham Crown Court in June 2016, for the robbery of a pizza delivery driver a month earlier, using an imitation BB handgun.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, told the court the only condition Lawrence was given when he was offered accommodation, on release on October 28, last year, was that he did not bring drugs into the house, in Queen Alexandra Road.

It became “a bone of contention”, and when his host and friends were drinking at the house, on October 31, Lawrence raised the question again, but was told if he wanted to use drugs, “he should get out of the house.”

Lawrence reacted angrily, pulling down the householder’s head and repeatedly punching him, landing blows to the back and side of the head, and to his hand.

The victim ran from the house bleeding and was treated by paramedics with the use of steri-strips to a superficial head wound.

Lawrence made no comment to police and none of the others present chose to give statements.

The defendant was charged with attempted wounding with intent, over alleged use of a knife, which he denied, but, following consultation, the prosecution chose not to proceed with that charge.

Lawrence did admit assault causing actual bodily harm.

Amrit Jandoo, for Lawrence, said he was taken back into custody on recall to serve the rest of the 52-month sentence, after his arrest on November 7.

Judge Christopher Prince imposed a nine-month sentence for the assault, having been told Lawrence’s recall release date is not until November next year.