A DRUNK 32-year-old man punched another reveller in the head during an unprovoked attack in a town centre pub.

Jamie Spence was drinking with friends at one end of the bar in The Joseph Pease, off Tubwell Row, Darlington, when an argument broke out with another man drinking at the opposite end of the bar.

CCTV footage inside the venue caught Spence having a heated exchange with a 26-year-old man before the pair approached each other at around 7pm on April 11.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court head yesterday how Spence struck out at the stranger, punching him in the head and knocking him unconscious.

Video evidence of the assault was played to magistrates which clearly showed Spence’s victim falling to the floor after being struck in the face.

Spence, of Wordsworth Road, Darlington, then picked up the man and carried him outside to be dumped “rather unceremoniously” on the pavement of Tubwell Row.

The court also heard the man was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital’s Accident and Emergency department for treatment, where an initial assessment suggested he has sustained a broken jaw. However, it was found the man had no broken bones, but did suffer a laceration inside his mouth.

A victim impact statement made by the victim said: “I’ve been in a lot pain since this incident and I haven’t even left the house much since.

“I’m worried about bumping into him and his friends again and I’m reluctant to go into any of the pubs in the town centre.”

Spence was previously convicted for two counts of affray, assaulting a PC and a driving offence, all dating between 2004 and 2015.

Spence pleaded guilty to one count of assault by beating during the hearing on Tuesday morning.

His solicitor, Tom Morgan, agreed with his client would require a probation report to be completed ahead of his sentencing.

Spence was granted unconditional bail ahead of his sentencing at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on July 2.