A MAN launched a ferocious unprovoked attack on a fellow drinker in a town centre bar for no apparent reason, a court was told.

The victim was sitting on the side of a covered pool table talking to a couple he knew when, out of the blue, defendant Carl Ian Pearson, threw a “fearsome” punch in his direction.

Durham Crown Court heard the target, a middle-aged man who was causing no provocation, fell to the ground with blood coming from his nose and mouth.

He was helped to his feet, but the defendant came forward again and threw a flurry of further punches at the same man, before onlookers dragged Pearson away.

Paul Cleasby, prosecuting, said Pearson was seen leaving the premises, The Freemason’s Arms, in Consett.

He appeared to be heading to a nearby pub, but when police vehicles were seen approaching, he returned to the Front Street premises, where he was arrested.

Mr Cleasby said the victim, who had been having a last drink following a night out in the town with friends, on Friday July 6, 2018, into the early hours of July 7, was briefly rendered unconscious.

When he came round, being attended by other customers, he was taken to hospital suffering facial disfigurement, for which he later had a metal plate inserted, plus fractures to the jaw.

Witnesses said he posed no threat to Pearson, who launched the sudden attack after breaking off from talking to a woman he was with, at one end of the pool table.

Pearson made no comment when interviewed by police and pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm (gbh), with intent, at a plea hearing in February.

But, in his defence statement, submitted in April, he admitted responsibility for the attack, and at the outset of his trial, on Wednesday, admitted the slightly lesser offence of causing grievous bodily harm, claiming there was no intent in the assault.

He told the court the “red mist” suddenly came over him, but the jury, following short deliberation, found him guilty of the more serious offence of causing gbh with intent.

Judge Christopher Prince remanded the defendant, 38, of Richardson Way, Consett, in custody pending sentence, which will follow preparation of a report on Pearson by the Probation Service, at Newcastle Crown Court, in the week of November 18,